Southern Jewelry News

Special “Day of Platinum-Atlanta” joins popular SJTA U Show Seminar Series

(ATLANTA) - Among the most popular features of the Atlanta Jewelry Show, the SJTA U educational series will offer even more business-building programs for jewelers during the March 6-8, 2010 edition at the Cobb Galleria Centre.  Partnering with the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association (SJTA), the Platinum Guild International (PGI) will enhance the SJTA U offerings with a full day of platinum education on Sunday, March 7. Ranging from marketing and sales training to technical and bench skills, the comprehensive courses are designed to help retailers tap into the power of the platinum brand as well as to the increased profits that accompany its sales.  These sessions will join the full roster of other SJTA U offerings, including programs on social media, expense control, visual merchandising and more.

“By partnering with an industry leader like PGI, we are able to offer our buyers even more opportunities to build their businesses during challenging economic times,” explains Carol Young, executive director of SJTA, producers of the semi-annual Atlanta Jewelry Show.  “By providing a richly detailed, additional educational track, we’re giving buyers a true ‘platinum opportunity’ to take full advantage of the lucrative sales this luxury metal can deliver.  Having previewed these new PGI presentations, I know that everyone will find the information enlightening and the message captivating.  Together with top-notch speakers and timely topics we’ve assembled for the full SJTA U series, this full-scale educational offering will arm retailers with the cost-effective tools, tips and ideas they need to gain a competitive edge.”

Running throughout the day on Sunday, March 7, PGI’s “Day of Platinum - Atlanta” programs include:

Keynote Address

Platinum Bridal - The “Bright Spot”

Speaker:  Kevin Reilly, Manager of Industry Relations, PGI USA

9:00 - 10:30 am, Room 103

The bridal business continues to shine as the “bright spot” during challenging times. More than 2 million people will marry in the U.S. this year - are you maximizing your profitability on each transaction?  Kevin Reilly, Manager of Industry Relations at PGI, will share important consumer research results that present an incremental profit opportunity for jewelers who run successful bridal businesses.  Through this interactive session, you’ll also learn how PGI can help you to seize this opportunity with the world’s most precious and most profitable metal.

Platinum Alloys - Features and Benefits

Speaker:  Jurgen Maerz, Director of Technical Education, PGI USA

10:45 am - Noon, Room 104

When working with platinum, as well as buying and selling platinum jewelry, one of the most important but often misunderstood questions is, “which alloy?” In this session, jewelers will determine which alloy is the best for the type of jewelry they are creating, buying or selling, and learn about the features and benefits of the finished product.  We’ll review the four most common platinum alloys used in manufacturing and discuss some specialty alloys for specific applications.  A MUST ATTEND for store owners, sales managers, sales associates and bench jewelers.

Lunch & Learn

reservations requested

Relational Selling: Making Life-Long Customers

Speaker: Terry Sisco, founder & President of ExSellerate!

12:15 - 1:30 pm, Room 103

The future has never looked brighter for retailers servicing the bridal customer. The key to creating a customer for life is the relationship developed over the engagement ring shopping experience, which should lead to the wedding bands and to future sales. 81% of brides prefer platinum, so getting her the platinum engagement ring she desires is the most important first step. PGI presents Terry Sisco, who will show you how relational selling is the only way to succeed in today’s challenging economy.  Convert your bridal customers into lifelong clients!

“Take Back the Wedding” and Maximize your Profits with Platinum

Speaker:  Kevin Reilly, Manager of Industry Relations, PGI USA

1:30 - 2:45 pm, Room 104

As the price of precious metals continues to trend upwards, there are some facts that remain unchanged - Platinum is still the world’s most precious (and most profitable) metal and consumer desire for platinum remains extremely high.  In this informative session, we’ll learn what couples spend their money on and where they’re willing to “cut corners” as they plan their wedding.  It’s an urgent call to action to retail jewelers everywhere to “Take Back the Wedding” and reclaim their share of the wedding budget.

Platinum and Lasers - the Ultimate Solution!

Speaker:  Jurgen Maerz, Director of Technical Education, PGI USA

2:30 - 4:00 pm, Room 103

When working with platinum, a laser is the perfect tool to accomplish almost impossible tasks. This presentation will showcase beautiful jewelry being constructed in a simple manner with outstanding results that can’t be achieved using any other method.   Operating a laser is not difficult and with the information provided, jewelers can immediately apply these techniques in their business.  With a little creativity, the sky’s the limit!

The programs join the full roster of other SJTA U presentations running throughout Saturday and Sunday, including:

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Are You “YouTubing, Facebooking, Twittering And Flickring” Your Way To New Customers?

Speaker: Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, President & Founder of Creative Business Consulting Group

9:30 - 10:45 am, Room 104

This seminar features an introduction to the power of social networks and explains how your business can harness the power to create brand loyalists and community members who will, in turn, shop in your store and tell others to do so - all via the World Wide Web.  Social networks are becoming a part of every best-in-class company’s marketing program.  Learn how to make it work for your business today.

Creative Cost-Cutting and Expense Control

Speaker: David Peters, Director of Member Services, Jewelers of America

11:00 am - 12:15 pm, Room 103

The information in this seminar will help you to make cost cutting and expense control decisions that offer maximum impact on your bottom line without compromising your commitment to customer service and satisfaction.  You’ll learn techniques and strategies that can be applied to the three primary areas of store operations: inventory, human resources, and facilities.

Lunch & Learn

reservations requested

The 3/50 Project

Speaker: Cinda Baxter, President of Always Upward, and Founder of The 3/50 Project

12:15 - 1:30 pm, Room 104

Did you know that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures?  If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays local; spend it online and nothing comes home.  In founding The 3/50 Project, Cinda Baxter turned a simple concept into a viral campaign. Built on the tag line “Pick 3, spend 50, save your local economy,” Cinda inspired small business owners to rise above the challenges of flailing economics while empowering consumers to create positive change by driving revenue back toward locally owned, independent brick and mortars. Come meet Cinda and learn how you can strengthen your independent business and inspire others in your community to do the same.

Solutions to the 7 Most Frustrating & Expensive Problems Jewelers Face in the Display of Their Jewelry

Speaker: Larry Johnson, Senior Vice President, Pacific Northern and author of “The Complete Guide to Effective Jewelry Display”

1:30 - 2:30 pm, Room 103

In this seminar Larry will cover such problems as managing showcase space, coordinating vendor-provided displays with your own displays, updating your cases on a limited or non-existent budget, making over full (or under full) showcases look inviting, and understanding the basics of good visual merchandising. Bring your questions as Larry will open the floor to questions from the audience at the end of his remarks.

The Changing Landscape of the Jewelry Industry - Suggestions for Improved Profitability

Speaker: Dr. Charles D. Lein, Retired President/COO, Stuller, Inc. and jewelry industry consultant

3:00 - 4:00 pm, Room 104

Chuck Lein will provide background information and set the framework for a dynamic interactive session, which will involve all seminar participants.  There are no single answer solutions to the challenges facing jewelry retailers and suppliers. However, exposure to, and implementation of only one new idea from the seminar will be a good return on participants’ one-hour time investment. Participants should come prepared to share with and learn from others.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

SOCIAL MEDIA BREAKOUT SESSION 1: Face the Facts -- Facebook Can Grow Your Business

Speaker: Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, President & Founder of Creative Business Consulting Group

11 am - 12:15 pm, Room 102

Facebook (FB) has over 300 million users worldwide and is growing daily! The fastest growing segments of users on FB are those over 35. In other words, your store’s customers! Lynn will help you learn why using FB can be good for your business. You’ll also learn how to create a FB page for your business that will engage customers with unique and interesting information; communicate with your customers and let them show support for your brand on a daily basis; and help you to gain insights into what your customers want in real time. Allow your customers to spread your message throughout their social network and share information about your store as they go along!

SOCIAL MEDIA BREAKOUT SESSION 2: Tweet, Tweet, Tweet - Creating Compelling Marketing Strategies with Twitter

Speaker: Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, President & Founder of Creative Business Consulting Group

3 pm - 4 pm, Room 102

“Tweet, TwitPic, Twitterberry and Tweet Deck.” Does that sound Greek to you? Join us for this interactive seminar about all things Twitter. Learn what it is, how it works and most importantly, how it can help grow your business. You’ll get the tools to help you connect with more customers and grow sales for your store, while lowering your marketing costs!  Discover real time applications for retailers (and manufacturers) to utilize Twitter in order to spread the word for their businesses, including delivering that information remotely via phone or PDA.

Advance registration is suggested for the Lunch & Learn programs. To pre-register for any of the SJTA U programs, retailers should call 800-241-0399 or 404-634-3434 or register online at www.atlantajewelryshow.com.