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Industry News: Pricing Strategy Webinar Upcoming; WJA Names Scholarship Winners; More July 11, 2018 (0 comments)
Pricing Strategies Webinar To Be Held Thursday, July 19
Attleboro, MA—The first of MJSA’s new webinar series will address jewelry pricing strategies. As part of MJSA’s new Designer Collaborative webinars, the webinars will be led by MJSA’s designer advocate, Andrea Hill (left), CEO of the Hill Management Group and a specialist in working with small and medium-sized businesses.
“The old rules of retail no longer apply, and that means pricing strategies are changing as well. In this webinar, we’ll review how to set prices that will provide both profit and consumer appeal,” says Hill.
The webinar will be held Thursday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Each registrant will receive a link after the presentation to view the recorded webinar any time, and any questions a viewer has after the webinar will still get an answer!
Webinars are free for MJSA Premier members, $15 for MJSA Associate members, and $50 for non-members. Click here to reserve your spot.
WJA Announces 2018 Scholarship & Grant Winners
New York, NY—The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) will award a total of $65,500 in grants and scholarships for the 2018-2019 program year. The funds have been awarded to 45 women, 12 of whom are students in accredited programs focused on jewelry making and design.
Funds for WJA scholarships and grants are raised through the association’s annual Awards for Excellence Gala (set for Monday, July 16), individual member donations, and through generous sponsorships.
“It is important that WJA encourages and continues to support the professional growth and educational endeavors of women in the jewelry and watch industries,” says Jenny Luker, WJA board president. “The recipients are all extraordinary and exceptional at what they do. We are excited to see what new opportunities they will bring to our industry.”
Student scholarships are awarded in three different categories: Designer/Creator Category (based on images of finished pieces that are designed and created by the student); Designer Category (based on designs by the student, includes CAD and drawings); and Non-Designer Category (essay-based for those studying to be a gemologist, appraiser, watchmaker, bench jeweler, or retailer).
The 2017-2018 Scholarship recipients are:
$5,000 Carelle-WJA Grant winner: Christina Miller, an independent sustainable jewelry consultant and co-founder and former executive director of Ethical Metalsmiths (EM), a not-for-profit organization founded in 2004 that strives to increase responsible practices in the jewelry industry through education. In 2013 EM successfully introduced FAIRMINED gold to the US in collaboration with 23 independent jewelers and refiner, Hoover & Strong. From 2006 – 2010 Miller was assistant professor of jewelry and metalsmithing at Millersville University, Millersville, PA. She holds a BFA from Millersville University and an MFA from East Carolina University.
$5,000 Female Veteran Scholarship (sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group) winner: Lisa West, Gemological Institute of America. A freelance computer aided design (CAD) jewelry designer in San Diego and a disabled veteran of the United States Air Force, West is a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America’s Graduate Jeweler and Jewelry Design and Technology programs. She is currently working with a startup jewelry company creating 3D models.
$5,000 Cindy Edelstein Jewelry Design Scholarship winner: Julie Martin, San Diego State University. Martin earned her B.A. in Applied Design in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at San Diego State University. Following school, she began a 3-year apprenticeship with a master jeweler in San Diego who is now part of her current team. After her apprenticeship, Julie started a fashion jewelry company. A decade later she founded Scout Mandolin, a luxury brand that makes custom one-of-a-kind engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry.
$5,000 Gabriel Love Foundation Scholarship winner: Magan Byron, Gemological Institute of America. Byron earned her BFA in Jewelry and Metalworking from the University of Georgia and is currently enrolled in Gem Identification at the Gemological Institute of America, the last course she needs to complete her Graduate Gemologist degree. She lives in Athens, GA and works as the operations director at T.K. Anderson Designs.
Charlotte Preston "Gets it Done" Grant: Nancy Hudson. This grant honors the memory of one of WJA’s most committed members, the late Charlotte Preston, who died in October 2015 at the age of 62. She was an ardent supporter of WJA and served most recently as president of the WJA Twin Cities Chapter. The Charlotte Preston grant is funded annually by the WJA Foundation and the WJA Twin Cities Chapter.
Other winners include:
- $7,000 June Herman Designer/Creator Scholarship Award winner: Hsinyu Chu, Gemological Institute of America
- Designer/Creator Scholarship Award ($5,000) Winner: Hannah Hash, Gemological Institute of America
- Designer/Creator Scholarship Award ($3,000) Winner: Ekaterina Korzh, University of Iowa
- Designer/Creator Scholarship Award ($2,000) Winner: Zihan Yang, Savannah College of Art & Design
- The Peggy Kirby Scholarship Award ($5,000) Winner: Sidnee Tyree, Kendall College of Art and Design
- Non-Designer Scholarship ($3,000) Winner: Jacqueline Lapuck, Gemological Institute of America
- Non-Designer Scholarship ($1,000) winners: Natalie Tjaden, University of Tennessee, Madison Desmond, Gemological Institute of America; Sarah Andrie, Gemological Institute of America; Jodi Webster, University of Kansas
- Grant winners listed by WJA Chapter: Austin: Mousumi Shaw; Boston: Lori Magno, Siran Varadian; Chicago: Arica DeArcos, Kelly Jacobson, Susanne Siegel, Stephanie Wishnoff; Colorado: Julia Mancarella; Dallas: Linda Friedel, Margueriette Hutchison; Lafayette: Mindi Courville; Los Angeles: Harvinder Keila, Tania Silpanone; Northern California: Deborah Durant, Brooke Miller, Rhoma Young; NY Metro: Maricha Genovese, Deborah Halperin, Delphine Leymarie; Ohio/Kentucky: Dawn Grady, Andrea Koenig; Providence: Marilyn Salvatore; Salt Lake City: Liz Deane; San Diego: Marreena Appleton, Jennifer DeMoro, Christine Lopez, Peggy Tsiamis; Seattle: Andrea Price, Danielle Saudino; Twin Cities: Julie Burkhart-Haid, Laura McDonald.
This year’s scholarship applications were evaluated by a jury, headed by Lisa Slovis Mandel, who serves as scholarship chair for the WJA Foundation Board of Trustees. Her committee included WJA representatives from across the country, representing all levels of the industry.
JA New York Summer Show Joins Home And Lifestyle Show In 2019
New York, NY—The JA New York Show will be co-locating with the NY NOW show, a tradeshow for home and lifestyle, for its summer edition beginning in August of 2019.
In addition to expanding buyer outreach to include more than 18,000 synergistic retail partners, the move also means the JA New York Summer show will now become a four-day event in August over NY NOW’s traditional dates. The first co-located event will take place August 11-14, 2019, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The JA New York Show will continue to be its own distinct entity, but one badge will grant retailers admittance to both shows.
JA will partner with NY NOW, a home and lifestyle tradeshow at the Javits Center, starting next year.
“We made the decision to partner with NY NOW based on the strength of their market attendance as well as the many inherent reciprocal benefits to both of the show’s retailers and exhibitors,” explains Drew Lawsky, Group Show Director of Emerald Expositions, producer of the JA Show. “Our ability to market our fine jewelry exhibitors to non-traditional jewelry stores, many with international reach, will increase our exhibitors’ ability to grow their businesses. Additionally, we feel the retailer attendance of both JA New York and NY NOW will be thrilled with the heightened offerings at the co-located events.”
“Partnering with the JA New York Shows for our summer show will provide added value to both our exhibitor and retail partners,” said Kevin O’Keefe, senior vice president of NY NOW. “Our fine and handcrafted jewelry exhibitors will now have the ability to market their work to more traditional fine jewelry stores, and those of our existing retailers who carry fine jewelry will gain access to a much greater breadth of product offerings. It truly is a win-win!”
The NY NOW show is the leading market for home and lifestyle products. It features three sections—home, lifestyle, and handmade goods, is traditionally attended by retailers and press who are interested in sourcing the most current collections from thousands of brands from across the globe.
WFDB Taps Peter Meeus to Head World Diamond Mark
Antwerp, Belgium—The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has tapped former Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) president Peter Meeus to head its World Diamond Mark (WDM) program. Meeus served as president of the DDE from 2009 to 2018 and as managing director of the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD), now the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, from 1999 to 2006.
WFDB president Ernie Blom said, “I am delighted that Peter has agreed to take over as chairman of the World Diamond Mark, created by the WFDB in 2012. Peter has enormous experience in the diamond sector and is known throughout the global diamond trade. “The work of the WDM is critically important in spreading awareness of diamond jewellery and in helping to boost diamond sales globally and have a positive effect on the entire diamond pipeline. I am sure he will take the WDM on to the next level.” “The World Diamond Mark aims to build trust in the jewelry shop and, as a result, support demand for diamonds. Through education and digital marketing, the WDM will provide retailers with the tools to showcase their integrity and create a consumer confidence program that will strengthen public trust in diamonds,” said Meeus.