Articles and News
Industry News From NCDIA, Jewelers For Children, JVC, Jewelers of America, More January 13, 2016 (0 comments)
NCDIA Appoints Barbara Wheat As Executive Vice President
New York, NY—Industry veteran Barbara Wheat (left) has been tapped to lead the Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA), with the title of executive vice president. Wheat's career spans nearly 25 years in the international diamond, gem and jewelry industry. She served as executive director of the International Colored Gemstone Association, and as adviser on international relations for the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association. She has a Master of Science degree from Columbia University in Sustainability Management and is an Accredited Gemologist (AIGS).
"Natural color diamonds offer something incredibly unique to consumers who are looking to complement their jewelry wardrobes, which inspires me to work with suppliers and retailers on expanding markets in the United States and worldwide." said Wheat.
NCDIA president Jordan Fine said, "Barbara is the ideal choice for NCDIA because she is well known around the world by trade associations, government entities, miners, suppliers, manufacturers and retailers. As NCDIA grows, she is able to assist at all levels of the supply chain, from mine to market."
In her role as executive vice president, Wheat plans to place emphasis on training and education, as well as the benefits for jewelers to carry natural color diamonds. She will be instrumental in providing information on these mysterious gems garnered from collectors, industry professionals and gemologists, and has already begun developing new point-of-sale brochures that explain the wonders of natural color diamonds to consumers.
Jewelers for Children Announces 2016 Rings of Strength Tour
New York, NY—Jewelers for Children will hold its fourth annual Rings of Strength event on Thursday, June 2, 106 in Las Vegas. Start time will be at 5:30 a.m. outside the tour bus entrance at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino. Participants can choose between a 5K walk or run, a 50K challenging bike ride in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, or a shorter 15K route. Structured so that participants can complete the course and have sufficient time to prepare for a day of work at the Las Vegas market week events, the activities are geared towards folks completing what they are comfortable with, in the time that they have available. There is also a yoga class for interested participants that will begin at 9:30 a.m.
To date, the event has raised over $ 180,000 to help children in need. “The Rings of Strength really is an event for everybody.” said Rebecca Foerster, executive vice president of strategic planning and marketing at Leo Schachter Diamonds, and a JFC board member. “It’s been so gratifying to see how it has grown over the past four years, with so many folks returning and new folks joining every year. The event has a real sense of camaraderie and provides an outlet for folks who have a hectic day during a busy week.”
Participants can visit www.ringsofstrength.org to sign up. During sign-up you create your own unique fundraising page with a unique URL, which can be sent to friends and acquaintances to encourage them to sponsor your participation. Bikers can bring their own cycles or rent one. McGhies Ski Bike and Board will once again provide rental options and participants can reserve one during the sign-up process. All funds raised will benefit the Jewelers for Children charity partners.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Full details are available online or by contacting JFC. Sign up on your own, grab a friend, or even organize a team from your company to participate!
Intrepid fundraisers at the 2015 Rings of Strength event.
Exsellerate Launches Exclusive Group for Top Retail Consultants
Tampa, FL—Exsellerate, a retail development and training group for the fine jewelry industry, is revolutionizing retail training to fit into the social media lifestyle of Millennials.
Terry Sisco, CEO of Exsellerate (below left) has brought his daughter, Lacey Sisco Garrett (below right), on board to bring a Millennial edge to his famed retail training experience.
"Millennials value community. We realized there was a gap in the industry. There are special groups for retail buyers, store owners, and marketers, such as CBG, Scull, BIG, et cetera, but there is no specific group for the front-line retail consultants driving the business across counters every day. These people are the hands and feet of the business and they need a place of community, encouragement and growth," says Sisco.
The Exsellpro Performance Group is for consultants who want to take control of their own careers. Admittance begins with a certification workshop that can be facilitated onsite for stores or online for individuals. The certification process is designed to ensure that members are equipped to provide a high baseline level of excellence in growing and nurturing relationships, building a solid customer community and enhancing the customer experience.
In addition to providing a community for consultants, group membership provides continuous year-round flow of training and tools to build their personal business. Content is delivered directly to members’ mobile devices via Facebook, Periscope, Instagram, and LiveStream, seamlessly integrating into their social media life so that business does not get interrupted.
The learning is “chunked” into small activities that are introduced via social media and then incorporated into daily practice for greater retention and development. Sisco explains, “In the past, when the trainer left so did the training. No more. We know that retention is greatly enhanced when learning comes in a steady continuous stream rather than the “drinking from the fire hose” approach of a one-day seminar.”
A major shift in the training content is a focus on developing the whole person, not simply focusing on a specific skill. Studies have shown that Millennials are driven more by purpose than profit. This concept may seem foreign to bottom-line oriented store owners, but when sales people feel good about themselves they are more productive. The “whole person” focus has measurably resulted in greater sales and increased job satisfaction. Amanda Boruch of GMG Jewellers, one program participant, says, “This program changed my life and I can’t stop talking about its impact!”
Individual membership is $29 per month. The Certification Workshop is facilitated either onsite for stores or online for individuals. Introductory pricing is offered for scheduling the Exsellpro Certification Workshop in January or February. Contact Terry Sisco, tsisco@exsellerate.com, 813-787-7355, www. Exsellerate.com. For free tips and best practices, follow Exsellerate on Facebook at facebook.com/exsellrev; on Instagram at instgram.com/exsellrev; on Twitter at @exsellrev, or on Youtube by searching “Exsellrev.”
JVC Publishes Latest Guide: ‘Getting It Right – JVC’s Guide to Quality Programs for Jewelers’
New York, NY—The Jewelers Vigilance Committee announces the publication of its latest guide, Getting It Right – JVC’s Guide to Quality Programs for Jewelers, published with a generous grant from International Gemological Institute (IGI). The guide provides simple and useable tools for all jewelers to implement quality assurance programs to ensure that the products they sell (at every level of the trade) are compliant with the law.
“JVC’s newest guide will inform the reader what elements they should address in their efforts to assure that they are following required standards, and helps them implement assurance programs. All sellers at every level, down to the retailer are responsible for the products they sell. Engaging in quality assurance programs protects the seller from the risk of selling non-compliantly. Informing your customers you have quality assurance programs lifts your reputation for integrity and ethical business practices,” said Cecilia Gardner, president, CEO, and general counsel of the JVC. “JVC is very grateful to IGI for helping us to bring this important information to the industry. I urge every business to implement a quality assurance program – and this guide will help you do it!”
“Getting It Right” can be ordered on line from the JVC web site: www.jvclegal.org or by following this link. JVC members pay just $20.00.
Separately, JVC held its annual luncheon on Friday, January 8 in New York City. The organization honored Dione Kenyon, retiring president of the Jewelers Board of Trade, for her career in the financial sector of the industry, and the JVC board honored its own Cecilia Gardner for her efforts in implementing the Kimberley Process. Ashley Orbach, U.S. State Department special advisor for minerals, precious stones, and the Kimberley Process, made the presentation.
Technology And Consumer Behavior To Be Topics For WJA Conference
New York, NY—“Blurring The Lines” is the theme of the 2016 Women’s Jewelry Association “In The Know” conference, set for March 10 in New York City. The theme address how technology has changed the way consumers behave and the way jewelry is sold both on and offline.
The event will open with keynote speaker Randi Zuckerberg, CEO of Zuckerberg Media and the author of Dot Complicated, a New York Times bestseller. She will talk about her personal journey on the front lines of Facebook (founded by her brother, Mark) and her thoughts on how technology has profoundly changed people's lives. Zuckerberg's talk is titled "Finding the Balance," and will address how to be a three-dimensional woman in today's digital age.
Following Zuckerberg's presentation will be Hitha Prabhakar, chief retail analyst at Aitchpe Retail Advisory, a boutique consumer and retail research firm. Prabhakar will discuss retail trends and shifts in consumer attitudes and how they are affecting shopping behavior. Prabhakar, a popular television analyst on retail trends, also boasts a keen sense of style and love of jewelry that she promises will be a part of her presentation.
Randi Zuckerberg and Hitha Prabhakar
The 2016 conference programming will address how consumer behaviors and technology are changing the way jewelry is sold both on and offline. Attendees will enjoy interactive presentations, on-stage conversations, power talks, and other experiential elements. Tickets go on sale January 19th. Click here for more information.
Jewelers of America Announces 2016 GEM Awards Winners
New York, NY—Jewelers of America (JA), held its 14th annual GEM Awards January 8 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. The winners in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence and Watch Design were revealed to an audience of more than 450 jewelry industry leaders.
Cartier received the GEM Award for Watch Design, as an inventor of an iconic and universal style while constantly pioneering new ground. The other nominees for Watch Design were Piaget and Roger Dubuis. Temple St. Clair received the GEM Award for Jewelry Design. Her achievements in 2015 included the launch of her Wings of Desire and the debut of Mythical Creatures at Les Art Decoratifs of the Louvre. The other nominees in the Jewelry Design category were Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of Chopard, and Sevan Bicakci. The GEM Award for Media Excellence was given to Rob Bates, news director of JCK, who has over 20 years of experience writing about the diamond and jewelry industries. The other Media Excellence nominees were Kyle Anderson and Rachel Garrahan. All the category awards were presented by the 2015 winners of each category.
"It’s been 30 years ago since I was drawn in by the history of gold, ancient coins and the traditional Florentine artisans. It was apparent to me from the start that the fundamentals of our business have not changed since the days of the Silk Route – the grand conduit of trade and cultural exchange from east to west. Based on relationship and a handshake, the treasures with which we work move from country to country, through many hands from miners, to cutters, to in my case a pause over a sketchbook to goldsmiths, setters, engravers, chiselers, then to stores, and finally to clients and collectors. This is what I love and what keeps me here. I love that I can spend my life playing the role of explorer, traveler, student, collaborator, and artist," said St. Clair.
Joe Thompson, a longtime industry journalist and editor-in-chief of WatchTime magazine was the recipient of the 2016 GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement. The audience applauded the contributions Thompson has given to the watch industry throughout his career. Thompson said humbly, “People in my line of work normally do not get and do not expect to get a wonderful honor like this. This is for the people we cover, not for the scribblers who cover them.” In his tribute video, he added, “I need to write, it’s something that is in me, so I will write until I can’t write anymore. I hope that day is still far off. The watch thing for sure still remains imminently interesting… There are more people interested in watches today than there ever has been in my entire career. So yes, I hope to still write about this subject until I can’t write anymore.” The award was presented by Efraim Grinberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Movado Group, Inc.
The entire GEM Awards event, including red carpet coverage, the awards program, and a sampling of moments from past GEM Awards was broadcast live on www.gemawardslive.com. The program is available for reviewing for the next year.
Sena Mourad-Friedman Joins Fruchtman Marketing
Toledo, OH—Fruchtman Marketing has named Sena Mourad-Friedman as senior account executive, managing many of the existing client accounts as well as securing new business for the agency. Friedman has extensive marketing and advertising experience, particularly in the television industry.
She began her professional career in 1987 as the owner of Folio Talent, a Toledo-based talent and modeling agency. In 1994, she worked as a Special Projects Coordinator for WNWO, a television station serving the northwest Ohio region, and was soon promoted to account executive. She joined Toledo’s ABC affiliate – Channel 13 – in 1998 as the station’s marketing specialist and in 2003 joined Buckeye CableSystem WT05 as general manager. Friedman also worked as a senior account executive with CBS 62 in Detroit before coming back to WNWO as the general sales manager. Prior to signing with Fruchtman, she was the director of development for the Toledo Fair Housing Center.
“This day has been long in coming, and I couldn’t be more pleased to have her on our team,” said Ellen Fruchtman, president of Fruchtman Marketing. “I have known Sena for many, many years, both professionally and as a personal friend. Her accomplishments are impressive, to say the least. But those pale in comparison to her enthusiasm, her passion, and her drive. I can’t wait to see the ideas she’ll bring to the table.”
In joining Fruchtman Marketing, Friedman will be drawing on her past experience to create new business opportunities. “I feel like I’m coming home,” she said. “All the different paths I’ve been on were preparing me and giving me what I need to embrace my passion – helping businesses grow. To me, that’s the heart of marketing and advertising.”
Fruchtman Marketing is a full-service agency that specializes in the jewelry industry and works with many of the country’s finest jewelry retailers, manufacturers, designers and trade groups. For more information, call (419) 539-2770, ext. 215, or e-mail Marge Stevens, marge@fruchtman.com.
Major Diamond and Jewelry Organizations Offer IDEX Trading Network to Members
Geneva, Switzerland—Major diamond and jewelry organizations, including the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Jewelers of America (JA), CIBJO (The World Jewellery Confederation), the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers of America (DMIA), the Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association (IDCA), the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), and the World Diamond Mark(WDM), all have offered their members to join the IDEX trading platform.
The offer includes free access to the IDEX Trading Floor for retailers. Other benefits are significantly discounted rates to sellers, with no limitations on inventory listings or login keys per subscription. In addition, users have access to the trademarked Guaranteed Diamond Transactions (GDT) network, a proprietary and unique online transaction clearing function, as well as free access to IDEX’s objective and transparent price report, which has moved from a weekly to a monthly format to better suit the needs of the market, both wholesale and retail.
The monthly IDEX Price Report reaches more than 76,000 industry players worldwide. Based on statistical algorithm analysis performed on the 700,000 certified diamonds listed on IDEX’s trading platform, the report reflects asking prices for high-quality diamonds in the global professional diamond centers.