Diamond Jewellery It's a Love Thing Watch Report Market Trends 2019 Better Business We Give You the Tools
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The mark of industry inspiration & information June 2019 £7.50 Diamond Jewellery It's a love thing Watch Report Market trends 2019 Better Business We give you the tools The National Association of Jewellers June 2019 Opinion 3 from The Editor therapy of the luxury kind. No doubt the Duchess of Sussex has an embarrassment of diamond-set push presents, and she doesn’t need another engagement ring, but if Harry needs some inspiration for an eternity ring perhaps, our Diamond Jewellery feature (p30) might be useful. (While we’re celebrating, let’s wish Happy Birthday to the brilliant cut, 100 years old this year.) Never mind Meghan, who could deny the Duke a congratulatory moment of self-indulgence – how about a new watch? Research shows that sales of top-end timepieces are sustaining the overall market, and while challenges exist, the watch sector as a whole is a strong one. Check out our report on the trends, new models and key influences on page 14. Industry influences have played their part in the evolution of the Sheeld Assay Oce. We think it’s been hiding its light, so I had to pay a visit and discover how the great team at this particular Assay y the time you read this it will almost be summer – Oce is equipping itself to adapt to the demands of an ever-shifting generally considered to be the silly season when it trade (p56). Meanwhile, a potentially disappearing craft – enamelling comes to news. However, even a cursory glance at – is enjoying reinvigoration and a renaissance. Acquaint yourself this issue’s contents tell a di£erent story… there’s so with this fascinating art on page 52. B much going on I hardly know where to start! Elsewhere in the June issue: how to do ‘Better Business’, recent “An exclusive range of bene ts and improved insurance cover If you happen to be reading this having just attended the NAJ’s SaferGems triumphs, a preview of the learning fest that is AGM then you’ll be aware that one of the Association’s lead stories is for NAJ Members” Loughborough, the latest KickStarters, what went on at Fair Luxury, the evolution of the NAJ’s National Committee and the steps being the re-vamped V&A jewellery gallery, award-winning jewellery taken to help members become ‘fit for the future’. We also revealed designs… All life is here – happy reading! the latest piece in our regalia – the Chair’s Pin. You can read about INCREASED IMPROVED DISCOUNTS both in detail in our opening pages. Also long-anticipated, was last month’s arrival of Archie Harrison Revenue Opportunities Insurance Cover On Products & Services Mountbatten-Windsor (bless his cashmere socks). Got to love a royal baby story, especially if it prompts people to indulge in a little retail Belinda Morris, Editor Plus Many Additional Benefits... Contact TH March or the NAJ to find out more! pg pg pg www.thmarch.co.uk/NAJ 14 30 52 “…brands operating in this [younger] market need to “… retailers have a responsibility to educate sta£ and “…the new mission – to connect, inspire, support and build brand appeal, to position themselves for today’s consumers to understand the di£erent aspects that make promote the professional enamelling community – is multi-channel customer…” up a diamond’s overall look…” paying o£…” @THMarchBiz The Jeweller AD - MAR 2019.indd 1 08/03/2019 08:36 NAJ News 5 The National Association of Jewellers Inside this Issue The National Association of Jewellers 10 Vyse Street June 2019 Birmingham B18 6LT 0121 237 1110 www.naj.co.uk Editor: Belinda Morris NEWS EVENTS & SHOWS [email protected] 08 NAJ News 38 Conference 2019 Advertising sales: [email protected] Taking steps to be ‘fit for the future’ Be there… or be sorry you missed it! pg 0121 237 1110 10 NAJ News 48 Responsible Sourcing NAJ Awards 2019 – the categories Reporting from the Fair Luxury conference in Edinburgh 46 Designed & produced by: Senior Internet 12 NAJ News 60 British Craft Trade Fair www.senior.co.uk Flying the Flag and FT Gold at Cooksongold Winning designs from the Harrogate trade fair 0115 838 9555 BUSINESS ADVICE 37 Industry News Printed by: Introducing KickStarters 2019 24 Education HPA Print Ltd www.hpaprint.co.uk Targeting professional progression 44 Industry News pg 07525 011 589 IJL talks, Fuller Foundation, FT Gold and more 28 Insurance 59 Industry News 60 TH March on the value of valuations Contributory writers: David Brough, Michael Donaldson, Simon Sheila Fleet and Goldsmiths North 40 Book Reviews Forrester, Harriet Kelsall Two beautiful books on the art of enamelling Front cover image: PROFILE 42 Security Brigitte Adolph We celebrate SaferGems’ success of the past 12 months www.brigitte-adolph.de deutscheCraft: +44 (0) 7403 204 008 52 At the Bench 46 Better Business [email protected] All you need to know about…. enamelling Introducing the NAJ’s Better Business Toolbox 56 Hallmarking The NAJ is responsible for producing The Jeweller and although every effort 62 Gold Market Report is made to ensure that the information supplied is accurate, the NAJ does not Sheeld Assay Oce is making its mark accept liability, loss, damage or claim whatsoever that may result from opinions expressed by contributors. Information and ideas are for guidance only and members should always consult their own professional advisors. The NAJ accepts no responsibility for the content of any advertiser, advertisement or insert in The OPINION Jeweller. Anyone having dealings with any advertiser must rely on their own enquiries. The magazine is printed using vegetable based inks on FSC certified TRENDS paper produced from sustainable sources 03 Editor’s Letter 14 This Time Want a personal copy of ‘The Jeweller’ The watch market examined delivered direct to your inbox? 07 CEO’s Foreword 38 It’s a Love Thing Complete the form at www.naj.co.uk/subscribe or 14 Education Bridal jewellery in the spotlight send an email to [email protected] The latest Bransom stars June 2019 Opinion 7 CEO’s foreword a good one. But this new deadline means further uncertainty, more non-spending, and a knock-on e£ect on our sector. While exchange rates may help a little, worries over customs regulations and tari£s continue to plague British manufacturers. We will of course monitor the situation and be ready with advice and guidance for members once we know what, if anything, is happening. On a more upbeat note, our JET Business Network Congress, one of the most value-for-money events in the calendar is days away. I’d urge every retailer to consider joining JBN as an add-on to membership; it’s well worth every penny. NAJ Awards On the awards front I was delighted to be asked to judge some of the Retail Jeweller Awards, which will be announced in early July – I hope to see you there on the night. Without giving anything away, the standard was really high (I know everyone says this, but it was) and the judges had some very entertaining arguments about which entry was best. As a relative newcomer to the sector (16 months and counting) I was really enthused by some of the innovative ideas Paying Attention retailers are putting into practice. As one judge said: “those willing to adapt to the new reality will still be here, and getting shortlisted, next year”. 2019 It’s strange when what you do gets noticed. The NAJ’s own awards open on 1st July, you can find out more and he NAJ’s Better Business Framework, which launches enter via the Association’s website. We’ll be announcing our winners in June, has already turned heads on a national in early December at the Benevolent Society Ball. Both RJ and the and international scale. I attended the Fair Luxury NAJ’s awards are about you, your team, your shop, your brand… symposium in Edinburgh to give a sneak preview of getting noticed. T where we’re headed with this project (see page 48) and was surprised to get such an overwhelmingly positive response On the consumer-facing side, our aim continues to be “more people Are you doing Which category will Dates for from delegates. Was this a one-o£? Apparently not, because a few buying more jewellery”. Each purchase has a story behind it, and it weeks later at the OECD Forum on responsible mineral supply is vital to echo the process from manufacturing to retail, and from something special? you enter? your diary chains in Paris, our intervention got a lot of interest, with several retail to end-customer. The NAJ’s website is designed to support our organisations contacting us afterwards to ask for details of how we members but also your customers, by giving them advice, guidance Individual/ Team awards 1 July developed our model. We are very pleased to be at the forefront and support to make informed choices on their jewellery purchases. NAJ Awards Made in Britain is another way of telling the story of British Sales Person of the Year Entries open of the development of this project, as it fits so neatly with our new recognise and strategic plan to keep members ‘fit for the future’. On that, we are in manufacturing skills which, we believe, will help bring consumers’ Designer of the Year 14 October the final stages of establishing the new sta£ and committee structure discretionary spend to our sector. I hope your business will get involved and support this vital initiative celebrate the brilliance Workshop Professional of the Year Entries close designed to deliver, and by the time you read this we will almost be Team of the Year there.