Jewelers address success

Jewelers from around the state came together for a morning of success stories and learning at “Jewels for Success,” a Michigan Jewelers Association event held in conjunction with the Prime Jewelry Group’s trade show. Both events were held at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn in mid-September.

The event began with the Design Contest Awards Breakfast, where jewelers were honored for their winning pieces in the 15th Annual Jewelry Design Contest (see story on page 11). Afterwards participants broke out for seminars.

“Jewelers and other retailers need events like these—it’s a chance to get out of the store and network with their colleagues about the industry,” said Gerry Klaver, MJA president and owner of Posts Jewelry in Holland. “I expect everyone took back something they can apply to their stores.”

Seminars were on both jewelry-specific and general retail topics. Diana Warga-Arias, from the Diamond Promotion Service, discussed DPS’s right-hand-ring promotional campaign. She went on to identify big trends in retail that can be applied to successful retail strategies in her seminar, “The Next Big Thing—For Your Sales.”

Award-winning author Rick Segel introduced technology solutions designed help the small retailer “Sell What’s Selling.” He showed how new technologies allow small business owners to understand and use the numbers their businesses produce, and turn them into an action plan for future success.

Retail managers learned from Susan Arlin, of Performance Concepts, in two lively seminars that addressed how to recruit, select and retain the best staff. It included how to manage their performance using strategies that bring out the best in employees and encourage them to grow and succeed.