February 2008
Imagine Designs sends retailer to Super Bowl
Imagine Designs sends retailer to Super Bowl
February 19, 2008
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| Reis-Nichols’ Jennifer Demmary, winner of Imagine Designs’ Super Bowl giveaway, with Imagine Designs Vice President Brian Hakimian at the game. |
New York—Imagine Designs Gem Corp., a second-generation colored-gemstone jewelry and bridal manufacturer, sent one lucky Centurion retailer to Super Bowl XLII, which took place concurrent with the jewelry-buying event.
Jennifer Demmary, merchandise manager for Indianapolis-based Reis Nichols, was the winner of the Super Bowl raffle held by Imagine Designs at the Feb. 2-6 Centurion Show in Tucson, Ariz.
Demmary won two tickets to the Super Bowl, plus round-trip limousine transportation between Tucson and Glendale, Ariz., where the big game took place on Feb. 5.
Since Demmary was attending the Centurion show alone, she asked Brian Hakimian, vice president of Imagine Designs, to attend the game with her.
“Jenn knows I am a Giant fan. I am so grateful she chose me to attend the game with her,” Hakimian said in a media release. “The Super Bowl promotion really got retailers at Centurion talking. It was definitely the most effective marketing idea that Imagine Designs has implemented.”
To drum up interest in the promotion before retailers arrived at Centurion, Imagine Designs sent a full-sized NFL football imprinted with a customized message to all Centurion retailers. Each retailer who made an appointment by Imagine Designs at the show was eligible to enter the Super Bowl giveaway, with the drawing held at a Feb. 2 cocktail party.
Though only Demmary won the grand prize, each retailer who made an appointment with Imagine Designs at Centurion was also a winner of sorts, receiving a complimentary massage at the Red Door Spa located within Tucson’s Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.
For more information about Imagine Designs, or to make an appointment, call (800) 869-0708, e-mail mail@imaginedesigns.com or visit the company’s Web location, Imaginedesigns.com.
Breitling honors top retailers
Breitling honors top retailers
February 19, 2008
New York—Luxury watchmaker Breitling honored seven jewelers at its 2007 “Retailers of the Year” luncheon held at New York City’s Per Se restaurant on Jan. 12.
This marks the third year Breitling has honored retailers for demonstrating deep constancy and a great vision for the congregation.
The 2007 “Retailers of the Year” in their markets include:
* Brown and Co., Roswell, Ga.
* Hyde Park Jewelers, Denver, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Ariz.
* Lewis Jewelers, Webster, Texas
* Ross Simons, Cranston, R.I.
* Orr’s Jewelers, Pittsburgh, Pa.
* Windsor Jewelers, Winston-Salem, N.C.
* Wempe Jewelers, New York
Breitling President Marie Bodman and General Manager Philippe Bonay presided over this year’s luncheon. Football legend Boomer Esiason attended the luncheon as the company’s celebrity guest.
Top Tahitian pearl designs awarded
Top Tahitian pearl designs awarded
February 19, 2008
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| The “Ethereal Rhapsody” necklace by Reena Ahluwalia took first place in the necklace category of the Tahitian Pearl Trophy-North American division. |
New York—The Cultured Pearl Association of America, which represents Perles de Tahiti in the United States, has announced the winners of the 2007-2008 “The Song of the Stars” Tahitian Pearl Trophy-North American division.
Winners included:
Necklace: Reena Ahluwalia, first place; Maggie Davidson, second place; Jeong-Seon Han, third place
Pendant: Erica Courtney, first place; Adam Neeley, second place; Nina Basharova, third place
Earrings: Celine Boure, first place; Hugh Power, second place
Ring: Avi Raz, first place; Adam Neeley, second place
Bracelet: Evelyn Huang, first place; Reena Ahluwalia, second place; Tara and Sons, third place
Parure: Lisa Krikawa, first place; Margarette Elie, second place
Brooch: Nina Basharova, first place; Reena Ahluwalia, second place; Margarette Elie, third place
Male Jewelry: Larry C. Y. Ho, first area; Yutao Liu, second place; Nina Basharova, third place
Accessory: Yutao Liu, first place; Larry C. Y. Ho, second place; Margarette Elie, third place
Special: Larry C. Y. Ho, first place
Judging for the event was held at the Terrace Club in New York City. The jury included Laurie Schechter of Stylists and Co., Elena Mauer of Bridal Guide, Jean Francois Bibet of Van Cleef and Arpels, Amanda Gizzi of the Jewelry Information Center, Kathleen Fritzpatrick, freelance annotator, Hedda T. Schupak of JCK and Fran Mastoloni of Frank Mastoloni and Sons.
Winning entries will now enter the Tahitian Pearl Trophy International Awards phase, to be judged by an international jury in May.
GIA names Liddicoat scholarship recipients
GIA names Liddicoat attainments recipients
February 19, 2008
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| The 2008 Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarship recipients, Christian De Bor (left) and Grant Herrin (right), with GIA President Donna Baker. |
Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced that the 2008 Richard T. Liddicoat (RTL) Scholarships have been awarded to Grant Herrin and Christian De Bor.
The recipients were revealed at the annual GIA Alumni Association auction and “poetry of motion.” party held at the Tucson trade shows on Feb. 8.
Herrin, 23, of Shreveport, La., will use his GIA education to foster his professional interest in estate jewelry.
He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Louisiana State University and has worked with jeweler Sid Potts Inc. since he was 16.
Once Herrin completes his Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) diploma at the GIA’s Carlsbad campus, he is planning on returning to Sid Potts and pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.
De Bor, 45, of Gloucester City, N.J., discovered an interest in gemology in his early non-age. As a young boy, he would cut and polish stones he discovered on the sands, and by age 9, he became an amateur lapidary.
He went on to be changed to any intern at the Smithsonian Institution and then to receive his undergraduate degree at Haverford College. After graduating, he worked in the jewelry field though various positions in customer service, sales, merchandising, appraising and management.
De Bor is planning in succession using his G.G. to become a jewelry designer and explained that receiving the RTL Scholarship is too a personal accolade to his late mother who recently passed away.
“These two individuals have demonstrated a tremendous amount of conviction and drive to further their cultivation and perfect their knowledge of gemology, thus making them the ideal representatives of the RTL Scholarship,” GIA President Donna Baker said in a media release. “We congratulate both Grant and Christian and wish them much success in their subsequent time endeavors.”
The RTL Scholarship Fund was created by the GIA Alumni Association in 2003 to honor Liddicoat, the GIA’s longtime president and chairman, who is regarded as the “Father of Modern Gemology.” The fund furthers the GIA and Liddicoat’s mission of providing gemological education to worthy students through awarding two full scholarships each year in the GIA G.G. diploma program.
For more information about the RTL Scholarship, visit The Richard T. Liddicoat Scholarship Fund Campaign.
For information about the GIA’s other scholarships, visit Financial Aid.
Applications for 2008 scholarships can be downloaded from the GIA’s Web site, GIA.edu, beginning June 15. For more information, convene (760) 603-4175, e-mail financialaid@gia.edu or visit the GIA’s Web site.
For more information about making a donation in the name of a scholarship, contact Bev Berthoty at (760) 603-4120, e-mail Bev.Berthoty@gia.edu.
GIA’s Four Cs Brochure Now Available in Spanish
The Gemological Institute of America has produced first-ever Spanish-language version of the Institute’s Four Cs brochure.
This is the first time in GIA’s history that the Institute has produced the Four Cs brochure in any language other than English.
The Four Cs brochure is designed to educate people about the main elements of diamond qualities of Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat Weight. In addition to underscoring the beauty and rarity of diamonds, this full-color piece has photographs and illustrations that disclose the GIA Color and Clarity scales and the GIA Cut scale for not directly brilliant diamonds.
GIA’s decision to produce a Spanish version of the Four Cs was debt to the rapid growth of the U.S. Hispanic peopling.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released a study that declared the Hispanic community is the largest minority in the U.S. with a population of 44 million in 2006, as well as the single fastest growing minority group in the United States.
“As an Institute whose commission is to educate the public, we recognize the importance of communicating through various languages,” said Donna Baker, president of GIA. “As our organization continues to show strong international progression, we hope this Spanish version will be the first of many distinct language versions of the Four Cs brochure.”
GIA is making the Spanish Four Cs brochure available to the public and the trade by allowing people to order the first 100 brochures free-of-charge. There is only one free-of-charge order per language per shipping address and partial orders are not available. Additional orders of 100 brochures are $12.50 per order, plus shipping, handling, and applicable sales tax.
To order either the English or the Spanish version of the GIA Four Cs pamphlet, e-mail myorder@gia.edu or you may download an order form at the GIA Web site.
Zale Q2 Earnings and Sales are Down
Zale Corp. on Thursday reported that second-quarter profits. fell 31 percent to $52.7 million year-over-year, which included a $2.5 million, positive impact related to derivative accounting treatment for the company’s gold and silver contracts.
Total revenues for the period, ended Jan. 31, for the Dallas-based company were $828 million, compared to $892 million in the prior year, a decrease of 7.2 percent. Same-store sales fell 7.3 percent.
“While these second quarter results are disappointing, I am convinced that Zale has a strong basis for improved performance as we again provide our value-oriented customer with an exceptional experience,” said Neal Goldberg, Zale president and chief executive officer.
“We intend to make Zale into a more nimble and efficient organization," he added. "We remain focused on the race of free cash flow, achieving a high return on capital and maintaining financial rigor and discipline overall. Our first step is a reduction of $100 million in excess inventory. We have conducted a detailed review by primitive and item and believe this yield can exist sold at a profit. Through fiscal 2008 we expect a negative impact on gross margin of approximately 500 basis points which is expected to be more than offset by the positive impact of the inventory reduction on free cash flow. Although we plan to make some selective investments, this $100 million reduction is not intended to be replenished. These actions are designed to ensure Zale’s success and generate value for shareholders over the long-term.”
Other highlights of the second quarter include:
• Unrecognized revenues related to warranty sales increased $33 million. This compares to an increase in unrecognized income of $30 million in the second quarter of ultimate year.
• Retired 5.8 very great number shares during the second quarter. Anticipate retiring approximately 11 million shares in total once share repurchase program is completed.
First Half of 2008
• Total revenues for the six months ended Jan. 31, were $1.2 billion compared to $1.27 billion last year, a lower of 5.4 percent
• Comparable store sales for the six-month period decreased 5.1 percent
• Unrecognized revenue related to warranty sales increased $47 very great number. This compares to each increase in unrecognized revenue of $29 million for the prior six-month period.
• Earnings from continuing operations for the six-month period were $26 million, compared to $52.4 million, for the prior six month period, which included a $2.3 million negative stroke related to derivative accounting treatment for the company’s gold and silver contracts.
Zale Corp. is a leading specialty retailer of beautiful jewelry in North America, operating over 2,150 retail locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, as well as online. Zale Corp’s brands include Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon’s Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda. Zale in addition operates online at www.zales.com and www.gordonsjewelers.com.