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New York, NY--Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) and Jewelers of America (JA) have developed the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program (EJAP), a series of interactive workshops to provide selected new retail jewelry entrepreneurs with a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain a successful business in the jewelry industry.

The EJAP program will include five selected retail jewelry entrepreneurs and a variety of established subject matter experts (SME). The SMEs will lead interactive workshops during the eight-month program. Following the completion of the EJAP program, the cohort will continue to have access to periodic check-in calls, quarterly workshops, and invitations to industry events.

“BIJC is working to ensure that our members have access to opportunities and education that can help their business be ‘built to last’ and this partnership with JA enables participants in the EJAP access to subject matter experts that will help them do just that,” says BIJC president Annie Doresca.

The curriculum will consist of business topics such as business strategy, HR/operations, product development/jewelry forensics, accounting, marketing & sales, legal, insurance and security, manufacturing, and ethical sourcing. BIJC and JA are currently accepting applications for subject matter experts.

“Jewelers of America is committed to continually advancing the jewelry industry by providing the tools necessary for retailers to be pillars for confident and savvy jewelry consumers. We are proud to work with BJIC on this important Program and look forward to finalizing the program’s curriculum,” says Jewelers of America President David Bonaparte.

The EJAP is supported by the JCK Industry Support Fund.

For more information about the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program, visit https://www.jewelers.org/jewelry-careers/career-tools/ejap