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Industry News: WJA-Carelle Grant Winner Named: New Magazine Targets Affluent Chinese Tourists; More July 22, 2015 (0 comments)
WJA Announces 2015 Carelle-WJA Grant Award Winner
New York, NY—The Women's Jewelry Association Foundation awarded its annual Carelle-WJA Grant to Tina Chan of Tytin Jewelry in Chicago. The $5,000 merit-based grant honors the memory of Brooke Tivol McGrath, a driving force in the launch of the Carelle brand, who died of a rare blood infection at age 28. The grant, funded by Carelle and through donations to WJA's Scholarship Fund, is intended to aid in the establishment of a designer's business. Eligible candidates must be current members of the WJA and in their first five years of business.
Chan will use the grant money to make her newly opened brick and mortar store a leading force in supporting Chicago's jewelry designers. "Our overall mission is to create community within Chicago's independent jewelry making industry, provide support and resources for that community's creative process, and have a positive space of commerce that includes selling goods to the maker community, as well as providing a space for designers to sell their own creations to the public," says Chan.
Applicants are required to submit an essay explaining why they deserve the award, placing an emphasis on personal dedication, determination, and a positive attitude towards the industry.
Among Chan's plans for her Tytin Jewelry store is to sell jewelry making tools and supplies and run classes, demonstrations, and workshops focused on jewelry related topics (including gemology and small business advice). The store will also provide studio space for individuals, a professional meeting area where independent designers can meet with their clients, a jewelry photography station, and a place where designers can sell finished jewelry.
Chan earned a BFA in fashion design from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She moved to New York City after graduation, intending to pursue a fashion career, but found that the field was not for her. Searching for a new creative outlet, she discovered a neighborhood jewelry studio and took an introductory silversmithing class, which ignited her passion for jewelry.
Eventually, Chan became assistant to the studio owner, took more classes, and decided to make jewelry her full-time career. She continued her education at GIA in Carlsbad, CA, graduating in 2011 from the Applied Jewelry Arts program. She moved back to Chicago and began working for Casting House, first as a custom client project coordinator and later was promoted to CAD designer.
In 2012, Chan founded her design business Tytin Jewelry, a brand dedicated to handcrafting simple, versatile, and unusual jewelry. "It's jewelry for the wearer who doesn't want to feel burdened by gaudiness or trend-saturated designs, but instead wants to make a subtle and unique statement," says Chan.
Tytin Jewelry sells online and by exhibiting at Chicago-area retail shows such as Renegade Craft Fair and Show of Hands. Chan plans to continue releasing small collections twice a year.
For more information about the Carelle-WJA Grant in honor of Brooke Tivol McGrath, click here.
New Luxury Magazine Targets Affluent, Repeat Chinese Tourists
Beijing, China—Of the 2.2 million Chinese tourists who visit the United States each year, more than half—1.4 million—are repeat visitors. A new magazine called Galerié, set to debut in November, aims to be top-of-mind with these consumers, beginning when they plan and apply for a U.S. travel visa, and concluding with—hopefully—lots of shopping trips to brands and stores featured within.
“Returning Chinese consumers are more likely to be independent travelers,” said Alec Glos, CEO of i2i Group China, in an article in Luxury Daily. “They tend to be more affluent, and luxury goods shopping and real estate investment is generally a key component of their U.S. travel.”
Unlike first-time visitors who typically come armed with tour groups and guides, independent repeat visitors are much harder to reach, so creating a connection with them is paramount, especially because shopping is something they typically begin planning long before they arrive, he said.
The magazine is published by i2i Group, which also produces Essentially America China, the Chinese edition of a travel publication designed to promote tourism in America. Essentially America is produced in native language for travelers from Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as China.
Galerié will be published four times a year, and distributed in approximately 90 Citic Bank locations where Chinese travelers must apply for their U.S. visas. The distribution plan—400,000 copies reaching approximately 640,000 consumers—is designed to both place the magazine and its brand advertisers top of mind early in the trip planning process, and establish trust of those partner brands because of the publication’s support by the U.S. government.
[It’s] like casting a net into the stream. Once the fish swims by, you don’t have another chance, in this case until the next visa renewal—which with the changes into effect this year, means up to 10 years,” said Doug Gollan, luxury consultant to Galerié, in the article. “With a projected readership of 640,000 repeat visitors, our platform reaches about 45 percent of the total repeat market. From a reach perspective, it is like buying time on the Super Bowl.”
Top image: Luxury Daily
Diamond Empowerment Fund Issues Summer 2015 Good Report
New York, NY—The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.)’s Summer 2015 issue of The GOOD Report was released last week. The GOOD Report is the organization’s online newsletter highlighting the good works of the diamond and jewelry industries. The summer issue features profiles of the student scholar speakers at the Diamonds In The Sky gala in Las Vegas; a new funding partnership with Diamond Development Initiative’s mobile school program in the DRC; the launch of the Diamonds Do Good Initiative website and Digital Toolkit to assist retailers in communicating the industry’s and their own good works; and the Diamonds Do Good Design Competition, a co-venture with the Couture show to find the next iconic charity bracelet supporting the organization.
Click here to read the edition.
Selling To Millennials To Be Keynote Topic In JA Education Series
New York, NY—Jewelers of America (JA) is producing two days of free seminars during the JA New York Show with a keynote presentation on marketing to Millennials by Ben Smithee, chief strategy officer of RELEVENTS & Spych Market Analytics.
“I can’t wait to speak to the JA New York audience about the changing face of retail, consumerism, and marketing! The millennial consumer is creating an impact greater than any previous generation when it comes to brand advocacy, commerce, and luxury,” explains Smithee. “The face of retail, ecommerce and marketing is rapidly changing and creating new opportunities for the jewelry industry.”
The “Breakfast with Ben: Understanding Millennial Consumers,” session is sponsored by Synchrony Financial and will be held Monday, July 27 at 10:00 a.m. in the education center at the show. Complimentary continental breakfast will be served.
Sessions about jewelry trends and profit strategies will be given by JA directors Amanda Gizzi and Matthew Tratner, respectively. Click here for the full schedule.
Separately, on Sunday, July 26, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Jewelers of America in collaboration with the JA New York show will host the “Wear One” cocktail party for JA members and JA New York’s VIP Buyers, at Casa Nonna restaurant. Invited attendees can view select designers wearing their favorite pieces and hear about their design inspiration. Participating designers include: Drukker Designs, Laurence Bruyninckx, Leo Ingwer, Lika Behar, Orlanda Olsen, TAKAT and ZAIKEN. Wear-One is by invitation only and sponsored by Synchrony Financial and United Precious Metal Refining.
More show information is here.