AGTA ISSUES ‘COLOR EVERLASTING’

The American Gem Trade Association of Dallas has published Color Everlasting – The Beauty of Colored Gemstones. The book covers all aspects of selling colored gems and colored gemstone jewelry. Information is included on fashion and color trends and how to buy colored gemstone jewelry, as well as a gallery featuring AGTA members’ products. The book, written for the fashion-savvy consumer, is intended as a countertop sales tool to enable retail jewelers and their staff to sell colored gems with authority and confidence.

Color Everlasting was poly-bagged with the June issue of JCK and was distributed in AGTA’s “Gemstones of the World” and designer sections of The JCK Show in Las Vegas. The AGTA office will mail books to retail jewelers at a cost of $8. A limited quantity will be available for chain stores to customize with a stamp or sticker. For information, call AGTA at (800) 972-1162.

JIC LAUNCHES PROMOTION SERVICE

The Jewelry Information Center, the public-relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industry, has developed a new benefit to help members obtain professionally designed advertisements.

The JIC Retail Promotion advertising program, being developed by A.B. Kohler & Co. Advertising and Coyne Enterprises Inc., will offer camera-ready newspaper ads twice a year to member retailers beginning this fall. The Fall 1998 program is free for retail members. The cost of participation in subsequent newspaper advertising programs will begin at $95. More than 100 camera-ready ads and illustrations featuring products from a variety of companies will be available.

For information, call Carolyn Jacoby at (212) 398-2319.

MIDWEST WJA GROUP SPONSORS CONTEST

The Women’s Jewelry Association-Midwest Chapter is sponsoring a national design competition to benefit the Chicago Abused Woman Coalition. The “Breaking Free” competition, open to U.S. residents with an interest in jewelry design or preventing domestic violence, highlights the struggle by survivors of domestic abuse to achieve lives of independence, self-empowerment, and peace. Prizes include awards of more than $2,000 and two round-trip tickets on American Airlines.

Winners will be announced on Sept. 26 at the chapter’s event entitled “The Magic of Denim & Gems.” The event will include a preview of Sotheby’s September Fine Jewels Auction as well as cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and live entertainment. It will also feature live and silent auctions of denim jackets decorated by top jewelry designers. For information, call Karla Lewis Leonhart at (312) 951-0212.

SEVENTH AGS WEEK SLATED THIS MONTH

The seventh annual AGS Week, sponsored by the American Gem Society, will take place Sept. 14-20. The event has been moved from November to better accommodate the slow time for most jewelry stores.

AGS Week is an outreach program to help educate the public about fine jewelry. Its theme, “Journey Through a Gemstone,” will be emphasized in promotional materials. Complimentary ad slicks, radio scripts, press releases, and tent cards are included in the AGS Week Kit, available to AGS member retailers upon request.

This year, AGS is sponsoring a window display contest in connection with the program. Participants are invited to submit photos of their window displays and information on other promotional materials used for AGS Week. Entries must be sent to Angela White, AGS marketing director, by Oct. 15. Winners will receive coverage in Spectra, the society’s bimonthly newsletter. The first-prize winner will receive a free ticket to the President’s Gala and a free ticket to the Robert M. Shipley Award Luncheon at the 1999 Conclave in New Orleans. The second-prize winner will receive a free Diamond Quality Document from the AGS Lab. The third-prize winner will receive a $25 voucher usable for any member services.

For more information, contact AGS at (702) 255-6500.

SJTA NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Carol Young has been named executive direector of the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association (SJTA), the 850-member nonprofit organization sponsoring the biannual Atlanta Jewelry Show. She replaces Myra Medintz, who retired after 30 years in the position.

As executive director, Young will direct all administrative and operational duties for SJTA. She will also manage and organize SJTA’s Atlanta Jewelry Show. As part of her show responsibilities, she will oversee booth sales, trade-show operations, and all buyer/exhibitor support programs.

Prior to joining SJTA, Young was trade show director for the Atlanta Market Center Trade Shows.