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Industry News: De Beers Execs To Speak In Vegas; D.E.F. Funds School For Miners’ Children; More May 13, 2015 (0 comments)
De Beers Execs To Speak In Las Vegas
London, UK—Three top executives from the De Beers Group will present a seminar titled Diamond Insights, at the JCK Show in Las Vegas. The event is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 29, in Tradewinds C&D in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Presentations will be made by Philippe Mellier, CEO (left); Bruce Cleaver executive head of strategy; and Stephen Lussier, CEO of Forevermark. It will be followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Rob Bates, JCK news director.
Diamond Empowerment Fund To Support Mobile School Program In The DRC
New York, NY—The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) announced its support of a mobile school for youth in the Kankala mining community of the Kasaï Occidentale province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Set to open in June 2015, the Diamond Empowerment Mobile School will give 25 children a chance at a brighter future. It will be one of eight planned schools developed by the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI). Mobile schools consist of traveling teachers and portable materials that are brought to a mining community for a condensed school year. These communities are in remote locations where children, particularly girls, would not otherwise have full access to education.
“To provide education to an additional twenty-five children in mining communities is phenomenal,” said Dorothée Gizenga, Executive Director of DDI. “It means twenty-five fewer children in mining and twenty-five more children with a daily meal and the chance to succeed.” “Sending schools to kids is a proactive and practical approach to a longstanding problem,” adds Ian Smillie, Chair of the DDI Board. “We look forward to partnering with those, like the Diamond Empowerment Fund, who share our vision on a more permanent solution.”
D.E.F President Phyllis Bergman said, “The Mobile Education School’s Project is synergistic with D.E.F’s mission to support sustainable approaches to development and education in diamond communities around the world. This is another example of how diamonds truly do good.”
The Diamond Empowerment Fund joins Brilliant Earth as the first two sponsors of mobile schools in the DRC.
For more information, click here and here.
Israeli Meeting To Address Competitive Position Of Diamonds As Luxury Product
Ramat Gan, Israel--The 2015 Presidents' Meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) will hear Frank Müller, a renowned international luxury marketing consultant, address the competitive challenges the diamond and diamond jewelry markets are facing in the global luxury consumer product market.
IDE president Shmuel Schnitzer, also an Honorary President of the World Federation Diamond Bourse (WFDB), said, "Diamond and diamond jewelry marketing is at the core of our industry's growth and success. We look forward to hearing Mr. Müller's views on what is needed to make our product more desirable to consumers worldwide."
WFDB President Ernest Blom added, "The Presidents' Meeting is an excellent opportunity to gauge the wellbeing of our industry and the downstream market. I am sure we will take away of lot of positive input from Müller's presentation and insights.
Frank Müller served as CEO and managing director of luxury watch brands A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original. He also served on the group management board of the Swatch Group AG in Switzerland. He established his consultancy agency The Bridge To Luxury in 2009. Since then he has assisted a large number of international luxury firms in the successful implementation of their strategies and business policies and plans.
Müller said, "Worldwide, the consumer market for luxury products will continue to grow, with a spending power of potentially trillions of dollars. This growth is apparent, among others, in the rapid growth in BRIC-countries, where new generations of consumers are evolving. This bodes well for diamonds, too, provided the diamond industry and retail jewelry sector invest focused efforts in enhancing the desirability of diamonds among consumers."
This year's biennial Presidents' Meeting will be at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel, June 14-16, 2015. It is hosted by the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) and the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association (IsDMA). Click to register for the meeting and book a hotel.
ICA Launches Multi-Faceted Communications Strategy
Hong Kong—The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) announces a comprehensive communications approach that enables it to provide news about the colored gemstone and jewelry industry worldwide in a variety of formats, both traditional and digital.
In addition to its long-standing trade magazine InColor (also available for ease of viewing on Apple and Android smartphones), ICA has also created a monthly e-newsletter with information about the ICA and the wider gemstone and jewelry industry on a regular basis.
The ICA website provides articles on the latest developments in the industry, as well as a wide range of other materials. The ICA has also launched a Facebook page and sends regular press releases about issues of interest relating to the organization.
MJSA Expo New York to Move to the Javits Center, Run Simultaneously with JA New York in 2016
Attleboro, MA— MJSA Expo New York will move to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in 2016, running simultaneously with the JA New York Spring Show, March 13-15. While both shows will be run independently, MJSA and JA New York have agreed to honor each other's badges for access to all exhibitors and educational sessions. MJSA president/CEO David W. Cochran said the opportunity to move to the Javits during the same dates as the JA New York show "presented a win for the buyers and the exhibitors of the two shows, something we simply couldn't pass up."
“The co-location of MJSA and JA New York is a natural fit," said Drew Lawsky, group show director for JA New York. "We feel strongly that having both shows running in tandem at the Javits during our March dates will have a tremendously positive impact on all of our exhibitors, and will streamline the process of attending both of these important events.” MJSA Expo New York will take place in the River Pavilion in the Crystal Place, and on two days MJSA Expo will open early for JA New York exhibitors to shop the show conveniently.