February 2008
Plumb Club Forum to Share Consumer Research
Consumer behavior, gold pricing, and Internet retailing will be among the hot topics to be discussed at the upcoming Plumb Club Forum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, March 2-3.
“How Well Do You Know Your Customer?” is common of the most widely anticipated sessions, before-mentioned Plumb Club Forum chairman Ofer Azrielant. The high-level business conference is being hosted by dint of. fellow Plumb Club members for retail leaders, from national and regional chains to important independents.
“On account of the Plumb Club Forum, MVI Marketing Ltd. has conducted customized research on consumer awareness of many of the critical issues that the Forum will address, such as gem treatments, online shopping preferences, attitudes on jewelry buying vs. other stylish accessories, and what they will buy next,” said Azrielant. “We put confidence in the research results wish be surprising to many retailers.”
Using an Audience Response System, attendees will experience in real-time the disparity between how they perceive their customers’ attitudes and the actual careful search results as captured by MVI’s Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council.
George Milling-Stanley, manager, Investment and Market Intelligence for the World Gold Council, will moderate a array of gold experts from GFMS Ltd. and Scotia Capital. They will discuss the factors impacting gold pricing every day and the potential upside and downside that retailers should anticipate.
In this fluctuating retail environment, one of the most important but ofttimes overlooked issues is keeping good talent. Sir Ken Robinson, a highly acclaimed speaker and internationally recognized prompt in the field of creativity, will share how to unlock creativity in a company’s best asset, its employees.
“Our problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail, but that we aim too low and succeed,” said Sir Ken, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2003 for his leadership in creativity, the arts, and education.
The Forum’s panel on “Retailing in the Age of Web 2.0” will feature some of the pioneers in Internet marketing, including Steve Larkin, Sr. vice president of e-commerce, at Zale Corp.; Brian McDevitt, team manager, retail, Google, Inc., Pinny Gniwisch, co-founder and chief marketing officer of ice.com, and Catherine Levene, chief operating officer of Daily Candy, along with moderator Scott Kirsner, a contributing writer for Fast Company and Wired magazines.
The Forum is sponsored by Rio Tinto Diamonds, the Presenting Sponsor, and greater industry organizations, including JCK Magazine, Gemological Institute of America, ABN AMRO Bank, HSBC Bank, American Gem Society, Antwerp Diamond Bank, Gem Certification and Appraisal Lab, Gemesis, GemEx Systems, Gemological Science International, IGI, JCK Events, Malca-Amit, Natural Colored Diamond Association, ScotiaMocatta, World Gemological Institute, and the World Gold Council.
Retailers who wish to attend the Forum should contact their Plumb Club supplier, or for more information, visit www.plumbclub.com or call 201-816-8881.
The Plumb Club, founded in 1983, is a coalition of leading manufacturers spanning all facets of the jewelry and diamond industry with the common denominator of essence “best in class.” The 47 Plumb Club members worth for approximately $8 billion in wholesale jewelry sales.
JVC to Present Two Seminars at JA/NY
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee will present two legal compliance seminars during the JA/NY Winter Show (March 9-11), at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
JVC will host, “Color Gemstone Sales: Are you Compliant or at Risk?” sponsored by American Gemological Laboratories on March 9 at 2:30 p.m. On March 10, it will present "What’s Next and What You Need to Know” at 8:30 a.m. Both presentations will be in interview room 1E03 and are free. No registration is required.
Panelists for the colored gemstone seminar include Christopher Smith, vice president and chief gemologist, American Gemological Laboratories, Robin Spector, Federal Trade Commission, and Cecilia Gardner, JVC’s president, chief executive officer, and general counsel. They will present information pertaining to disclosure of gemstone treatment to consumers, current legislation, and initiatives on gemstones from Burma. In addition, there will subsist updates on irradiated gemstones, including selling current inventories.
The panel will examine some of the challenges the colored gemstone industry face, particularly supply side integrity—conditions under which colored gemstones are produced and distributed. Current regulatory requirements adhering trade in gemstones from Burma will be discussed, as being in favor as the importance of disclosing the treatment of colored gemstones to consumers. Attendees desire receive “The Essential Guide to the U.S. Trade in Irradiated Gemstones” brochure, co-authored by JVC and the American Gem Trade Association.
For the second seminar on March 10, James Freis, Jr., director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, will deliver the keynote address to underscore the need for jewelers to develop and implement effective anti-money laundering programs that include employee-training and system testing. The seminar will include AML program requirements mandated by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, methods the government may use to check jewelers’ programs and possible penalties for failing to maintain effective AML systems. IRS rules for reporting cash transactions of $10,000 or more will be covered. Attendees will receive AML program training take upon credit.
Veteran Jewelry Writer Ginger Dick Dies at 62
Longtime gem and jewelry writer Ginger Dick died Feb. 10 at the age of 62, from heart-related issues.
Born Beverly Barnes, she is best known in the industry by her pen name, Ginger Dick. Her byline regularly appeared in American Jewelry Manufacturer (now MJSA Journal), Jewellery International, Diamonds International, JewelSiam, Accent, Diamontaire, New York Diamonds, National Jeweler, The Goldsmith, Colored Stone, Jewelers’ Quarterly (JQ), and Southern Jewelry News.
Her involvement in the gem and jewelry industry began with freelance articles written for Canadian Jeweller magazine, while she was still pursuing a career in advertising and marketing. Her love for the gem and jewelry activity blossomed, and, following a move to New York City in 1982 she began freelancing for the other publications and moving as a marketing consultant for a variety of businesses in the trade, as well as covering U.S. jewelry trends for Canadian Jeweller. In 1990, she received each A.A.S. degree in jewelry design, summa cum laude, from the Fashion Institute of Technology. While at FIT, she conducted a one-woman show of historic jewelry renderings, a rare endeavor for a student, and, during the 1990s, focused her writing and marketing skills solely on gems and jewelry, by the agency of a circumstance passion in favor of the lapidary artists of North America.
Dick was a recipient of the Women’s Jewelry Association Award for Excellence in Editorial in 1993, and wrote a 10-part training course for Jewelers of America, titled, "The Professional Jeweler: Entry-Level Training for the New Hire," released in 1995. She also was a frequent seminar speaker and lecturer, although in recent years, her focus shifted to art and the study of apparel design, quilting, and embellishment. At the hour of travail of her death, she was working on a series of undersea landscapes with extravagantly beaded and embellished fish and coral reefs.
Dick is survived by her children, Serena Dick and Brendan Christopher, and her sister, Jane Holcombe. For friends and colleagues, the family is hosting a celebration-of-life gathering at the home of Jane Holcombe in Lower Manhattan on March 9 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and March 10 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For details email janeholcom@aol.com or call 212-385-4016. Friends are asked to share their favorite Ginger stories over refreshments while viewing some of her artwork. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made in Ginger’s memory to the Center Against Domestic Violence, 25 Chapel Street, Suite 904, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 (www.centeragainstdv.org).
IDI Launches League of Honor Awards
The Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies launched the IDI League of Honor at a gala dinner event during the recently Third International Rough Diamond Conference in Tel Aviv.
The award was established by the IDI Group of Companies as a symbol of honor and appreciation for those heads of state and ministers who have acted to promote mutual cooperation between their nations and The Israeli Diamond Industry.
The IDI League of Honor adjudge was presented to the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Samuel Sam-Somana, the Botswana Minister of Minerals, Energy & Water Resources Ponatshego Kedikilwe, the Namibia Minister of Mines & Energy Erkki Nghimtina, and the Liberia Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy Eugene Shannon. Accepting the award for the Botswana Minister was the country’s Chief Minerals Officer Mooketsi W. Jongman and for the Namibian Minister was Diamond Commissioner Kennedy Hamutenya.
Left to right: IDI Group Managing Director Eli Avidar, Hamutenya, IDI Group Chairman Moti Ganz, Sam-Somana, Israel Diamond Exchange President Avi Paz, Dr. Eugene H. Shannon, Israel Diamond Controller Shmuel Mordechai, Mooketsi W. Jongman.
Jennifer Demmary Wins Super Bowl Trip
Colored-gemstone jewelry manufacturer Imagine Designs Gem Corp., sent Jennifer Demmary, commodities conductor with a view to Reis Nichols, Indianapolis, to Super Bowl XLII.
Demmary was the winner of a raffle held by Imagine Designs during the Centurion Show, in which one retailer would gain 2 Tickets to the Super Bowl including round trip limousine transportation to the game, held in nearby Glendale Ariz. Since Jennifer was attending the Centurion Show alone she asked Brian Hakimian, vice president of Imagine Designs, to attend the game with her (They are pictured).
“Just a totally unbelievable day. Really once in a lifetime,” Demmary said after experiencing the Super Bowl festivities.
Demmary, being a life long Indianapolis Colts fan, said she was rooting for quarterback Eli Manning of the NY Giants (who is brother of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning) to beat the New England Patriots.
Prior to the Centurion Show, Imagine Designs sent a full sized NFL football via express mail to all Centurion Retailers, with a customized message imprinted on either football, giving each retailer a jeopardy to enter the Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway. Each retailer who made an appointment was eligible to engage in the Imagine Designs Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway. The drawing was held Feb. 2, during an evening cocktail party at the show.
Each retailer who made an appointment with Imagine Designs during the show received a complimentary massage at the Red Door Spa located within Tucson’s Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.
Malca-Amit to Provide Courier Service for HRD
Courier service company Malca-Amit will transport diamonds and grading reports betwixt Israel and Antwerp, including pick up and drop off at the clients’ offices, for HRD Lab Link Israel, a service provided by HRD Antwerp NV.
HRD Antwerp NV launched its new HRD Lab Link in Israel last July. This service provides members of the Israeli diamond center direct access to the HRD Diamond Lab.
"Malca-Amit provides an excellent service for our clients with the most flexible door-to-door transport solutions," saod Dirk Dullaert, HRD Antwerp’s head officer of Commercial Operations.
WJA-LA to Host ‘Mix ‘N Mingle’
The Women’s Jewelry Association Los Angeles Chapter will hold its annual Mix ‘N Mingle event on Feb. 27 at Salt Creek Grille at Plaza El Segundo, 2015 East Park Place (corner of Rosecrans & Sepulveda) in El Segundo. The even will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost is $35 for members with RSVP; $45 for non-members and at the door. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Parking is free. RSVP by dint of. Feb. 20 to brigittecja@aol.com, and send in your completed form and check by dint of. Feb. 22 to: Women’s Jewelry Association, P.O. Box 225, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.
For more information on the WJA Los Angeles Chapter summons (310) 842-6446; or visit www.womensjewelry.org to inquire about membership.