The Jewelers Resource Bureau is taking its education on the road in 2009 by offering seven jewelry business-oriented classes in Tucson during Gem Fair Week.

The slate of classes is coming under the heading of the newly formed JRB Marketing Academy, a natural progression of the one-off classes and annual Designer Day Business Conferences previously offered by JRB.

“We wanted to make our classes convenient and accessible,” said Cindy Edelstein, president of JRB. “And we revamped the curriculum to address these particular challenging times for jewelry designers. The only way to compete in the new economy is with energy, focus and a lot of marketing savvy. We’re training designers to be ready for the new marketplace.”

The sessions will be held at the historic Manning House in downtown Tucson, and designers can sign up for one or more classes at multiple discount pricing. 

The dates are Feb. 4 through Feb. 6 during the Manning House Bead Show. Classes will be held in the building during the bead show but are not bead related.

Most classes are geared for all experience levels although a few are best suited for beginners. They will be taught by Cindy Edelstein of JRB and Marlene Richey, author of the newly published, Profiting by Design: A Jewelry Makers Guide to Business Success.

Classes are $95 each but are discounted to $80 each for two classes and $70 each for three or more. For more information or to register, click here.

Caption: The Manning House in Tucson will be the location of the JRB Marketing Academy.

JCK