The new concept Vicenzaoro The Boutique Show attracted “over 33,000 local and international visitors – 13 per cent more than the 2014 edition of the trade fair. According to the fair organiser, Fiera di Vicenza, the new fair, which featured more than 1500 brands across nine pavilions and 29,000 square metres of floor-space, attracted “decidedly positive numbers” of buyers and visitors.
Matteo Marzotto, president of Fiera di Vicenza, said the company was extremely pleased about the exhibitor and visitor numbers as well as “the positive feedback” on its new format.
“With Vicenzaoro The Boutique Show, we firmly believe that we have opened up new prospects for the entire global gold and jewellery industry,” he said.
“It is the fulfilment, but also the new beginning, of a precise strategic plan, a courageous small-big revolution made possible by Fiera di Vicenza’s investment, commitment and vision. In our pavilions over these days, one could breathe an air of optimism and trust. Traders, the public and guests, including institutional ones, were able to appreciate a better interpretation of ‘Well Done in Italy’, as well as, we believe, our role as a high-profile international exhibition provider.”
“This recognition gives us the indispensable energy to face the new and hefty global wagers in 2015 which will be particularly challenging, starting with the coming edition of Vicenzaor Dubai in April.”
Michael Hill International launched its new ‘We’re for Love’ brand platform in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States with two new commercials during…
Michael Hill International launched its new ‘We’re for Love’ brand platform in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States with two new commercials during the Super Bowl on Sunday February 1. The commercials aired during the game in Canada and the Chicago area where the majority of Michael Hill’s North American stores are based while viewers in Australia and New Zealand saw the ads aired on all the major networks. The commercials, created by NZ ad agency Colenso BBDO, feature 30 “real people” out of 1200 who were selected on the streets of New York City and asked about their experiences in love and ‘what would you do for love?’
The 30-second commercial, aired in the US, features virtually no jewellery while the second ad, the one-minute ad aired in Canada, only features short glimpses of Michael Hill jewellery – both instead focus on a wide range of people celebrating love. The shorter commercial features closeups of numerous people, mainly staring directly at the camera, with statements such as ‘I’d die for it’, I’d cheat for it’, ‘I’d lie for it’ and ‘I’d turn for it’ printed on the screen as ‘On Top of the World’ by Mindy Smith and Inland Sky plays in the background.
The second commercial features people (alone and in couples) “in love” with a voice-over discussing love and concludes: “Jewellery is a mark of love, it says someone loves you, even if that someone is yourself. When given it’s an expression of love. Young love, old love, motherly love, straight love, gay love, forbidden love, brotherly love, it seals love, nurtures, creates, kindles and declares love for all the world to see. We don’t care what kind of love you’re into, we just want to make sure you get your fair share.”
Michael Hill International’s chief marketing officer Joe Talcott said the company is very excited about its new creative direction.
“Colenso have taken our brand DNA and brought it to life in a visual and emotional experience. ‘We’re for Love’ uses beautiful, poignant and thought-provoking stories of real love, told by the people behind them, to encourage people to think about the nature of love. We feel these people represent a cross section of individuals who we do business with every day in New Zealand, Australia, United States and Canada”.
He said the commercials are designed to engage and provoke emotional responses.
“We are advocates of love, in all its forms. Every piece of jewellery we sell is an expression of love and our goal is to help people create more love in the world. We believe everyone regardless of age, sex, and relationship status will find something that resonates with them.”
Talcott said the company’s decision to invest in air time during the Super Bowl “was made to get the Michael Hill brand in front of as many people as possible” in two of its key markets –the US and Canada.
“The NFL Super Bowl XLIX is a huge event attracting a massive audience both in the USA, Canada and across the globe…We’ve been working on this campaign for over a year now and have invested a substantial amount in the development of the platform – so to be able to launch it in key markets during the Super Bowl was very exciting.”
He said the TV commercials will be supported by catalogues, online content, outdoor advertising, cinema, social media and in-store signage and will appear in all Michael Hill International global markets. The Michael Hill ads can be viewed here and here
De Beers Group CEO Philippe Mellier American consumers’ growing preference for branded products is helping retailers achieve Forevermark diamond sale prices 10 to 15 per…
American consumers’ growing preference for branded products is helping retailers achieve Forevermark diamond sale prices 10 to 15 per cent above equivalent prices for generic diamond jewellery, according to De Beers. Addressing a cocktail event for Forevermark jewellers in New York, De Beers Group CEO Philippe Mellier said it was undeniable that the consumer landscape in the US was changing.
“There has been a clear increase in consumer preference for brands and people are also changing how they engage in the retail process,” he said. “We have seen a rise in the US from just seven per cent of consumers claiming they acquired a branded engagement ring in 2002, to around five times that level in 2013.
“The generation Y and millennial consumers who will provide the oxygen of future US diamond jewellery demand are looking for uniqueness and ethical reassurance in the products they buy.
“There are numerous possible questions for potential new diamond purchasers – ethical, corporate and social issues; undisclosed treatments and synthetics; soft grading misrepresenting value; and poor returns from traded-in diamonds undermining the sense of lasting value.
“It is vital that we develop programs that both excite and build trust in diamonds if we are to engage the consumers of the future… In short, we need to ensure that diamonds remain relevant to this demographic and we require the right vehicles to promote the choice of diamond jewellery ahead of luxury holidays or electronic gadgets.
“I am pleased to say that, to date, we are seeing Forevermark Jewellers consistently achieving 10 to 15 per cent premiums above equivalent generic diamond jewellery.
“This is clearly very important when considering the requirement to fund the marketing, inventory, and retail environments necessary to compete effectively against other luxury goods categories.”
Mellier said that diamonds continue to be by far the most coveted gemstones in the US jewellery market but the industry needs “to maintain a sharp focus” on its long term prospects.
“We must constantly work on understanding, preparing for, and even influencing the future,” he said. “And we need to work together to find mutually beneficial ways to keep the diamond dream strong.”
He stressed however that this is not always easy in an industry that is characterised by unique challenges and opportunities. “The product we sell is scarce and becoming scarcer. We operate in a fairly long and complex supply chain. We are experiencing shifts in consumer trends and increased competition from other luxury categories.
“And yet in spite of all of this, we have the potential to make the next few years among the most successful ever for diamonds. At the global level, he said that “even in the most pessimistic scenario, we can expect real positive demand growth for diamonds thanks to the traditional engine of US demand, coupled with growing demand from the East as more Indian and Chinese middle class consumers choose to purchase diamonds”.
Julia Roberts wearing Tiffany’s jewels at the 2015 SAG Awards
Tiffany’s jewels may have sparkled on the red carpet at the 2015 Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards but the company’s sales in the November-December holiday period were a little lack-lustre.
The company has reported that its worldwide net sales of US$1.02 billion for the two-month period in 2014 were one per cent less than in 2013. Tiffany’s chairman and CEO Michael J. Kowalsk said sales for the holiday period “were disappointing overall with significant variability in performance by region and by product category”.
“In terms of regional performance, Asia-Pacific showed solid sales growth, sales in Japan continued to be weak, European sales rose nicely in local currencies and sales in the Americas declined slightly after a very strong start to the year,” he said.
“Regarding product categories, our very strong and concentrated marketing focus on Tiffany ‘T’ generated strong sales growth in fashion gold jewellery. However, that success did not translate into broader sales momentum as we had anticipated in other jewellery categories.”
Net sales highlights included: • In the Americas, total sales on a constant-exchange-rate basis were equal to the prior year and comparable store sales declined one per cent reflecting mixed results around the region. In US dollars, total sales declined 1 per cent to $544 million. • Total sales in the Asia-Pacific region on a constant-exchange-rate basis rose 10 per cent and comparable store sales increased 6 per cent, led by noteworthy growth in China and Singapore. In US dollars, total sales increased 7 per cent to $210 million. • In Japan, total sales on a constant-exchange-rate basis declined 3 per cent and comparable store sales declined 8 per cent. In US dollars, total sales declined 16 per cent to $113 million. • Total sales in Europe on a constant-exchange-rate basis increased 9 per cent due to growth in major continental European markets and comparable store sales rose 4 per cent. In US dollars, total sales increased 1 per cent to $133 million.
Tiffany’s president Frederic Cumenal added that the company has “meaningful global opportunities to pursue over the long-term”.
“For the coming year, however, we are planning cautiously as we anticipate significant headwinds from the stronger U.S. dollar against all of our key currencies that, as we experienced in the holiday period, negatively affects both the translation of results and sales to tourists in the US.”
As at December 31, Tiffany’s operates 296 stores (123 in the Americas, 73 in Asia-Pacific, 56 in Japan, 38 in Europe, five in the United Arab Emirates and one in Russia).
TAG Heuer CEO Jean Claude-Biver and new brand ambassador Cara Delevingne
Delevingne’s ambassadorship was officially announced at a party for 150 journalists and VIPs in the Salle Melpomène room in the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris.
Presenting Delevingne with a TAG Heuer Formula One steel and white ceramic chronograph set with diamonds, TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver said he was delighted to welcome the 22-year-old ‘It girl’ into the TAG Heuer family.
“This is always a very solemn moment,” he said.
“The TAG Heuer family is not just an idea, it is a team, with true team spirit.
“We needed someone disruptive yet elegant like Cara to open our minds to the brashness and boldness of today’s youth. TAG Heuer has set its sights on “it-ness”, and Cara is just the person to help us get there.
“She is a true path-breaker, who, like TAG Heuer, pushes past conventions and limits with creativity and passion, and never cracks under pressure. “She perfectly embodies the core values of the Swiss brand.”
2013 IOJDA Prestige Professional Award winner by Karin Tremonti from NSW
Established in 2000 in Lightning Ridge to “promote free-form and undulating surface opals in exquisite jewellery”, the biennial awards now attract entries from all around the world.
IOJDA Association president Lyn Carney is “highly enthused” by the level of interest being shown in this year’s competition.
“It has become progressively evident at each event that Australian opal has captured the attention of many additional countries such as Russia, South Africa, France, Germany, Hong Kong and China,” she said.
“It is always difficult to estimate the number of entries we will receive in any competition; however we will reach a database of 7500 jewellers, designers, carvers and avid opal lovers, as part of our overall publicity.” 2013 IOJDA Jewellery Hand Sketch wnner by I-Ting Chen from Taiwan This year’s Award categories are: • Jewellery Hand Sketches • Carving Awards – Professional and Non Professional • $2000 Christine Roussel Incentive Award • Alf White Memorial Non Professional Award • Fantasy Award • Apprentice Award • Nine-to-Five Wear Award • Prestige Professional Award • Designer Wear for Males
Carney said the Designer Wear for Males category was added following requests from numerous jewellery designers.
“We are hoping that the category will see many innovative jewellery designs submitted and therefore help position opal jewellery as suitable for both men and women’s jewellery’.
She concluded that the awards raised the profile of the winning jewellery designers as well as opals themselves, nationally and internationally. The competition is open to jewellers (professional), apprentices (currently engaged in a jewellery course) and non-professionals.
The closing day for the receipt of official entry forms and entry fees is July 10 while the deadline for the receipt of the finished jewellery piece is July 24.
The 2015 Awards will be presented at the IOJDA gala dinner on Friday July 31 during the Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem festival.
