The JA Report: News, Tips & Trends from Jewelers of America

Just for Jewelers: Free Internet Marketing Tip Series!

We just received a press release announcing an event that includes a "week of Internet marketing tips for independent jewelers" and wanted to pass it on to The JA Report's retail jeweler readers!

The Event: Just for Jewelers: A Week of Internet Marketing Tips For Independent Retail Jewelers
When: October 11-15, 2010
Where: Online

Mac and Cheese Web Marketing announces an online social media event Just for Jewelers. Starting October 11th, Mac and Cheese's Facebook page will feature free daily tips specifically for independent jewelers

What’s Your Cost of Doing Business? Series

Jewelers of America released its 2010 Jewelers of America Cost of Doing Business Report, which analyzes jewelry retailers’ financial data from 2009. The Report, which has been published annually for two decades, represents the most complete and historical comparative financial information available to specialty jewelers in the U.S.

Do you know your cost of doing business? Or how your profitability, or lack thereof, compares to your jewelry competitor down the street? Jewelers of America developed the Cost of Doing Business Report to help independent jewelers benchmark their performance based on key financial indicators and effect positive change in their business profits. In JA’s “What’s Your Cost of Doing Business?” Series, we’ll reveal just how vital the Report is to your business management, and how it assists you in improving profitability.

You can use data tables in the 103-page Report to take control of your business management and improve profitability in the following ways:

JA & Industry Associations Inform Conflict Minerals Regulation

In July, Congress passed conflict minerals provisions as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Jewelers of America strongly believes in the goals of the provisions and we fully condemn the use of any minerals to fund conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and/or surrounding countries.

Following passage of the law, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now has the task of establishing the rules for compliance with the new law. Along with other major jewelry industry associations, Jewelers of America is working with the SEC and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)  to ensure that the rules to be promulgated and enforced by the new law achieve its goals, without hurting jewelry businesses and the very communities in DRC and neighboring countries that it is meant to benefit and protect.

JA Keeping Eye on Zimbabwe Diamond Situation

Jewelers of America (JA) members have access to expert guidance on issues that affect consumer confidence in jewelry merchandise. One key issue we’ve been following—diamonds from Zimbabwe—has recently gotten increased media attention. To ensure Jewelers of America members are informed and prepared, we continue to keep a close watch on the situation in the Marange region of the country, the source of reported human rights violations.

JIC Promotes Fall Fine Jewelry Fashion Across Nation

On August 25th, Amanda Gizzi and Helena Krodel, the expert spokespeople for Jewelry Information Center (JIC) -- Jewelers of America's consumer education arm, performed more than 30 television interviews about fall fine jewelry trends on morning shows across the nation. The media tour promoted the jewelry collections of Jewelers of America Supplier Members, while motivating audiences to seek out Jewelers of America Retail Member stores for their fine jewelry purchases.

How can anyone manage to be in 30 cities in one day?  If anyone can, it is the JIC ladies!

Helena Krodel (left) and Amanda Gizzi, of Jewelry Information Center, showcased
the fall fine jewelry trends on news stations across the country.