10 sessions for learning at JA New York Summer

Synthetic diamond disclosure, website traffic and trend forecasting are among the topics that will be covered at JA New York Summer Show’s Educational Conference, which will take place Sunday, July 27 and Monday, July 28.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

New York--Synthetic diamond disclosure, website traffic and trend forecasting are among the topics that will be covered at JA New York Summer Show’s Educational Conference, which will take place Sunday, July 27 and Monday, July 28.

Speakers will include representatives from the American Gem Trade Association, Jewelers of America, the Natural Color Diamond Association and the Pantone Color Institute, which twice a year forecasts the hues that will influence the design sectors.

The sessions are as follows.

Sunday, July 27
--Success in the Color Gemstone Revolution: Passion & A Plan
10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
AGTA CEO Doug Hucker will address the colored gemstone marketplace, as well as the trends and issues impacting success with this challenging product.

--Advance Your Business through Responsible Sourcing
11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
This interactive presentation will discuss how members of the jewelry trade have made the most of their responsible sourcing efforts to enhance their reputation and improve their bottom line. Topics to be discussed include supply chain assurance, active or passive proof of origin, informal/artisanal sector challenges and the Diamond Development Initiative’s development diamond standards.

--Should You Pay for Website Traffic? Understanding How & Why
12:55 to 1:55 p.m.
JWag founder and CEO Matthew Perosi will review various types of online paid advertising and how to get involved with them, as well as explore the differences between Google AdWords, Facebook ads, Yelp, Yellow Pages and more.

--Unlocking Your Profit Potential through Consumer Financing
2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
Learn about current consumer credit trends and how to build credit into your business model to increase profits while enhancing the customer experience and building loyalty. Shelly Schulz, lead marketing manager of retail finance at GE Capital, will cover proven best practices, tips on introducing financing and overcoming objections, and the important of consumer credit choices in marketing and advertising.

--Presenting the “Diamonds Do Good” Global Message to Consumers
3:35 to 4:45 p.m.
The Diamond Empowerment Fund will host this seminar focusing on the importance of sharing positive messages about diamonds with consumers, including its recently launched “Diamonds Do Good” initiative. The organization also will share insights on the strategic use of social media to positively impact consumer awareness and confidence throughout the world.

Monday, July 28
--Start Your Day with JA: Breakfast & Benefits
10 to 10:30 a.m.
Matthew Tratner, director of membership and sales at JA, will share over a

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continental breakfast how a JA membership can benefit a business.

--Trend Forecasting: Discovering the Top Trends to Increase Sales
10:40 to 11:25 a.m.
Amanda Gizzi, director of public relations and special events at JA, will discuss the trends that will shape merchandising this fall, holiday season and in the beginning of 2015. She also will highlight the fashion trends that affect how jewelry is worn, walk through the process of determining a relevant trend and reveal how being a trend leader can increase sales.

--How to Grow Your Business in the Digital Age: Why it Pays to be Likeable
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Nicole Kroese, director of new business at Likeable Local, will share stories and give actionable advice from inspirational small business leaders on growing a business in the digital age, covering responsiveness, authenticity and adaptability.

--Engaging with Color in Autumn/Winter 2015 (presented by the Women’s Jewelry Association)
1 to 2 p.m.
Laurie Pressman, vice president at the Pantone Color Institute, will show attendees how to engage with color without commercial risk, exploring the color statements for autumn/winter 2015-2016.

--Synthetic Diamonds: The Need for Proper Promotion & Disclosure
2:15 to 3:30 p.m.
In this discussion moderated by National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and presented by the Natural Color Diamond Association, panelists will discuss what needs to be done for proper promotion and disclosure of synthetic diamonds, as well as their plans for dealing with these materials, current detection methods and how people are dealing with undisclosed synthetics.

More information on these seminars can be found on the JA New York website.

The JA New York Summer Show is scheduled for July 27 to 29 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.