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Industry News: JA Promotes Jewelry On National TV; Bodoh To Head AGS; Beware Of Fraud And Gypsies December 14, 2016 (0 comments)
JA Promotes Fine Jewelry, Member Stores For Holiday Season
New York, NY – Jewelers of America (JA) is promoting holiday gift ideas and JA Member jewelers through a variety of nationwide public relations and marketing activities. The association has expanded outreach to consumers through a multi-city television tour, a national digital advertising campaign, email promotions, online gift guides and an ammolite jewelry sweepstakes.
JA's director of public relations and events, Amanda Gizzi (left), appeared via satellite on over 30 morning shows nationwide on November 29 to showcase jewelry gift ideas, including gifts that give back and budget-friendly pieces. The segments featured JA supplier members’ jewelry and reiterated the importance of shopping with a reputable jeweler—ideally a JA member.
JA featured the following Supplier Members as part of the holiday media tour: Alex Woo, Claudia Endler, Coomi, Diamond Empowerment Fund, Diamonds Unleashed, Gumuchian, KORITE, Lashbrook, Lika Behar, Meghna Jewels, Meredith Marks and Sandy Leong.
Left: Gumuchian's Mini B Collection Necklace in 18K yellow gold with diamonds gives back: partial proceeds go to City Growers, a NYC-based group that connects urban communities with agriculture, food and environment through farm education and advocacy in order to foster a culture of health and sustainability. A Gumuchian diamond solitaire necklace in 18k gold is also shown. Right: 24K gold and oxidized silver small hexagonal Pompei ring with cabochon labradorite, from Lika Behar.
“Jewelers of America is heavily focused on increasing consumer excitement for buying fine jewelry, and our holiday promotions are putting jewelry in the spotlight as a top gift along with spotlighting our members store as a gift-giving destination,” says Amanda Gizzi, JA director of public relations and events. The JA website also emphasizes a number of pieces that give back through a charitable donation with purchase, such as the Gumuchian piece above and the Kara Ross Diamonds Unleashed diamond and vermeil charm, below left, and the Diamond Empowerment Fund's new Diamonds Do Good bracelet, below right:
“The Amazing Ammolite Jewelry Sweepstakes” sponsored by Korite ran in conjunction with the holiday promotion, which directed consumers to JA members' stores and encouraged them to learn more about ammolite while increasing their desire for fine jewelry.
JA will continue to promote fine jewelry and Jewelers of America-member jewelers throughout the month with digital advertising, a series of email blasts to consumers, holiday gift guides and social media campaigns.
Visit Jewelers of America’s website, www.jewelers.org, to watch a clip from the media tour, and see the jewelry featured.
American Gem Society Taps Bodoh As Next CEO
Las Vegas, NV—The American Gem Society (AGS) has named Katherine Bodoh as its new CEO, effective March 1, 2017. She will succeed Ruth Batson, the retiring CEO.
Bodoh currently serves as deputy executive director of AGS. She came to AGS from Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, where she served as director of commercial lines marketing and industry relations. While at JM, she began working in a strategic partnership role with AGS, and was very active as a liaison between the AGS Guilds and JM. She continued that role after moving over to AGS.
Katherine Bodoh
“It is an honor to serve the membership of the American Gem Society. I will resolutely uphold our esteemed legacy and seek new ways to bring value to our membership and laboratory clients,” said Bodoh. “I joined AGS because of its mission and its extraordinary members. I had the opportunity to learn from the incomparable Ruth Batson. I look forward to partnering with the board of directors and the wonderful team at AGS and AGS Laboratories. Together we will serve the next generation of industry professionals and keep AGS vibrant, relevant, and indispensable.”
“Katherine is our ideal candidate,” said Scott Berg, CG, president of the AGS board of directors. “She has many of the qualities that have made Ruth a great CEO: they share a dedication and passion for the AGS mission of consumer protection, business ethics and ongoing education.”
Louis Smith, CG, former president of the AGS board of directors, headed up the CEO search committee. “A lot of talented professionals applied for this position. In the end, it was clear that with Katherine’s experience in the industry and particularly at AGS, makes her the perfect choice to carry on Ruth’s legacy of excellence.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of the board’s choice for the next era of leadership at the American Gem Society,” said Batson, who will stay through the end of May and work with Bodoh to assist in the transition. “Having worked closely already with Katherine, I know that she is member-focused with a deep commitment to our mission of consumer protection. I look forward to watching the Society reach new heights with Katherine and the rest of our amazing team at AGS and AGS Laboratories.”
Bodoh has association management experience from the start of her career in the industry working at the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA) in Providence, RI. She has additionally served on the Women’s Jewelry Association Scholarship Fund board of trustees, the board of directors for the Wisconsin Jewelers Association, and the JFC fundraising and event committees. She is currently involved in the Jewelers Leadership Forum and the US Jewelry Council, and she’s an active member of ASAE (American Society of Association Executives). She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans, and is an American Gem Society Registered Jeweler (RJ).
JSA Warns Of Credit Card Fraud, Continued Gypsy Thefts
New York, NY—No matter how busy the store gets with holiday shoppers, don’t skimp on security procedures, warns the Jewelers Security Alliance. In an interview with National Jeweler, JSA president John Kennedy warned that although statistics show lower incidences of in-store jewelry crime during the holiday season, both credit card fraud and distraction thefts by nomadic gypsies are on the rise.
Credit card fraud had risen 5% by midyear, Kennedy told NJ, while gypsies have been active in jewelry crimes in seven states. He urged jewelers to take the time to follow the rules of the card issuer to the letter, or risk chargebacks for fraudulent purchases. Key red flags include:
- Asking to have the card number entered manually
- Asking to swipe a chip card
- The customer calls the "credit card company" and provides an override code when a card is denied
Additionally, Kennedy advises jewelers against accepting a credit card over the phone unless it is a well-known customer.