Smith, Kibby Promoted at Edge Retail Academy

Omaha, Neb.--The Edge Retail Academy recently announced that it has added jewelry business veteran Kevin Sweeney to its team and promoted two existing employees, Sherry Smith and Becka Johnson Kibby.

Sweeney is now a business advisor at the Edge Retail Academy (ERA). He has more than 29 years of experience in the jewelry industry, formerly working with both Hearts On Fire and Shreve, Crump & Low.

His results-oriented approach led to a 20 percent sales growth in key markets for Hearts On Fire and a 30 percent increase in bridal sales for Shreve, Crump & Low, and he increased stock turn and helped differentiate both brands from their competitors, the ERA said in a press release announcing his hire.
Smith, meanwhile, has been promoted to director of business development.

In this new role, Smith will lead the ERA’s continued expansion into the area of vendor relations.

She brings 25 years’ experience to the role, having worked as principal partner in her own retail stores before moving to the client services side of the business with the ERA.

Smith will be heading Vendor Service Program’s new Vendor Pulse, which gives vendors real-time sell-through data that allows them to identify their top-selling styles by stock turn, units sold and average retail sale. The Pulse was designed, the ERA said, to take the guesswork out of inventory management and product production.

Kibby has been promoted to director of operations, where she’ll continue to lead the ERA’s efforts and facilitate greater access to all the team’s business advisors and specialists for every new retail client who partners with ERA, giving them access to the entire team based on their specific needs (inventory, sales training, branding, etc.).

The ERA also said that Kibby has been instrumental in enhancing its key offerings, like the free Business Opportunity Analysis (a $625 value).

For more information, visit EdgeRetailAcademy.com. To schedule an appointment or consultation during the Centurion Jewelry Show in Scottsdale, Arizona (Jan. 28 to Feb. 1) contact Kibby at Becka@EdgeRetailAcademy.com or 714-925-2456.