Jewelers plan fall event

Michigan Jewelers Association will hold its fall event on September 25 at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn. It’s an opportunity for jewelers to celebrate the state’s best designers at the 16th Annual Design Competition Awards and to brush up on their retailing knowledge.

The Design Competition Awards will be held in conjunction with a luncheon, with seminars before and after. The seminars address two prime concerns of jewelers, especially at this time of year: security and holiday sales.

The morning seminar, “Jewelry Crimes That Teach Security,” will allow participants to learn from actual losses reported by Jewelers Mutual policyholders, from sneak thefts and grab-and-runs to armed robberies.

Following the awards luncheon, the focus will turn to the upcoming holiday season. “Holiday Boot Camp with Diane Warga-Arias” will help jewelers maximize sales and profits this season. Warga-Arias, of the Diamond Promotion Service, is a nationally recognized speaker and an MJA favorite from past years.

Her session will also involve participants in a drill-and-practice session designed to help them generate and close more diamond sales, boost profit margins and create the in-store experiences customers seek.

The event is held in conjunction with the Prime Jewelry Group’s show, also being held at the Ritz-Carlton on September 25-26. It is being sponsored by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company.

The event is free for MJA, JA & GIA members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required for the Design Competition Luncheon. Contact MRA’s Kammy Johns at 800.366.3699 or kjohns@retailers.com to register.