Gilt Groupe Cofounder Headlines WJA Conference

The cofounder of Gilt Groupe will speak about how to get $1.5 billion in sales in 3.5 years at the Womens Jewelry Association’s 11th annual In the Know conference next month. 

Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, who wrote the bestseller By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop, will talk about her experience building the flash sale site and sign books after her speech.

The conference will be held March 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hearst Tower in New York City. 

Other event highlights include:

Rachel Shechtman, founder of STORY, will speak on “Storytelling: The New Consumerism.” Named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company, Shechtman has consulted for brands such as Kraft, Toms shoes, and Lincoln Motor Co.  Her new retail concept, STORY, completely reinvents itself every four to six weeks.

? Dan Thurmon, an expert on handling transitions, will speak on “How to Evolve During Changing Times.”

– A panel will look at “How Jewelry and Watch Brands Have Extended Their Brands.” It will be moderated by Stellene Volandes, style director at Town & Country magazine, and feature designers Melissa Joy Manning and Kara Ross

– A second panel will discuss “How Retailers Are Reinventing Themselves.” Moderated by Orit, president and CEO of the O Group, panelists include Cathy Fischer, Sterling Jewelers; P.J. Lynch, Gem Shopping Network; Jennifer Gandia, Greenwich Jewelers; Annelise Peterson, Net-a-Porter; and Daniella Yacobovsky, BaubleBar. 

The conference will, for the first time, be followed by an awards ceremony, including cocktails and dinner, also at the Hearst Tower, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The ceremony will honor WJA regional chapters’ Shining Stars for 2014 and the 2013–14 WJA DIVA design contest award winners.

More information can be seen here.

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