JA to present 'J-Biz,' roundtable at JCK
Retail marketing, customer management, jewelry trends top talking points

May 15, 2008

New York—Jewelers of America (JA) will host a full-day seminar series, covering such topics as marketing, customer management and jewelry trend-spotting, plus an executive roundtable session on the retailer-supplier relationship, both to take place during the JCK Las Vegas show.

The full-day "J-Biz" seminar series will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.

Beginning at 9 a.m., a seminar titled "Cause-Related Marketing" will kick off the day of events. During the session, Jewelers for Children Executive Director David Rocha will help jewelers learn to maximize their charitable giving efforts to increase community visibility.

The following session, "Generational Marketing to X and Y," will be led by Nick Failla of Premier Consulting Innovations, who will discuss ways to reach out to younger consumers.

That afternoon, JA Director of Education David Peters will present "Building Critical Customer Loyalty," leading retailers through the latest best practices in loyalty programs.

Finally, Helena Krodel, associate director of media for the Jewelry Information Center, will speak on trend-setting jewelry during a seminar entitled "Give Your Customers What They Really Want: Smart Buying for the 2008 Holidays."

The JA Executive Roundtable will take place on Saturday, May 31, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., also at the Venetian.

The session will focus on the ways in which retailers have moved beyond simply asking suppliers for the best price, to asking suppliers a variety of legal, ethical, social and environmental questions. The speakers will also discuss how retail jewelers and suppliers who embrace responsible practices can differentiate themselves among today's green and socially conscious consumers.

JA Director of Public Affairs Peggy Jo Donahue will chair the roundtable, which will include Cecilia Gardner, president, chief executive officer and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee; Michael Rae, CEO of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices; John Hall, general manager of external relations for Rio Tinto Diamonds; John Hayes of Goodman's Jewelers in Madison, Wis.; and Kathe Mai of Trios' Studio in Lake Oswego, Ore.

J-Biz will take place in Zeno Room 4709, on Level 4 of the Venetian. The Executive Roundtable will take place in the Delfino Ballroom, also on Level 4 of the Venetian.

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