Keynote speakers star in IJL 2014 seminar programme
LONDON, July 19, 2014 – Nicholas Wainwright from Boodles and Jo Fairley from Green & Black’s have been revealed as two of the high profile speakers heading up the industry acclaimed IJL 2014 seminar programme.
Nicholas Wainwright, Chairman of Boodles
This unique and inspirational programme, which will run over the three days of the event at Olympia GRAND (August 30 to September 2) will feature more than thirty eight industry experts and, for the first time, will be complemented by a series of special one-to-one Advice Clinics.
All the seminars are free to attend and are designed to provide vital market information covering topics including: brand building and retail security, an overview of the UK luxury jewellery market, maximising customer engagement and successfully planning family succession.
Event Director, Sam Willoughby said: “The seminar programme has been created to give the industry an invaluable source of knowledge and commercial insights.
“It attracts speakers of high calibre, some debating issues and topics that are being aired for the first time within the industry. It’s the reason why so many retailers see the seminars as an integral part of their own staff training.”
This year’s highlights over the three packed days include…
Sunday 31st August
The first day of the show promises to provide a fascinating insight into one of the most successful luxury businesses in the UK – Boodles.
Entitled ‘Boodles – building a brand in the jewellery business’, the Chairman Nicholas Wainwright will be talking to Claire Adler, the leading jewellery and luxury correspondent, about their transformative journey from a respected county jeweller to a company with an international reputation.
With 9 luxury stores now, including a prestigious site in New Bond Street, Boodles is committed to excellence in all facets of design, craftsmanship and service – perhaps best portrayed in Channel 4’s recent documentary “Inside Boodles: the Million Pound Necklace”.
Nicholas Wainwright said: “I am delighted to have been invited to speak at this year’s International Jewellery London Exhibition. Boodles is a family run company and an interest in jewellery has always been in my blood. It is something I am extremely passionate about.”
Other feature sessions will cover hot topics such as ‘Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the jewellery industry’.
A highly rated panel of experts will include Dr Gaetano Cavalieri (President, CIBJO The World Jewellery Confederation) and James Courage (Chief Executive, Platinum Guild International), both known and widely respected throughout the international jewellery market for promoting the benefits of CSR.
Add into the mix Coventry University’s Professor Marylyn Carrigan’s UK jewellery specific CSR research and this seminar – chaired by Simon Rainer, the Chairman of the BJA and recently nominated in the RJ Awards for his outstanding contribution to the industry – is set to be one of the most well attended at the show.
“What better platform than IJL for the BJA to bring the heads of both of these organizations together and present on how their respective organizations are working for the improvement of our industry” said Simon Rainer.
This session will be complemented by Debbie Barrow, Managing Director of Virada Training – the leading specialist supplier of sales training for luxury retailers in the UK jewellery sector – who has two high profile spots in the Sunday programme: ‘Developing high performing sales teams’ and ‘Managing’ sales conversations’.
Debbie Barrow, Managing Director of Virada Training
“At IJL, we will reveal important findings about what makes a top sales performer and the secrets to success when selling to today’s customers, who are more knowledgeable, confident and independent than ever before,” Debbie said.
“The jewellery sector is a hugely exciting arena to be researching and working in, and we are looking forward to meeting new and existing clients at the exhibition.”
And last but not least, will be the very current debate on ‘Customer service v security’, led by Hilaire O’Shea, Retail Security Expert.
This seminar will bring together experts from the Police, Retail and Insurance – including Philip Jones, the Senior Security Manager for Westfield London – to advise retailers on how to use proven management techniques and staff training, to help ensure their stores are a hostile environment for the thief.
In the event of other circumstances such as a planned refurbishment, the session will also cover how best to deter theft from occurring – all without sacrificing the customer service that is essential for success.
Hilaire O’Shea said: “Jewellers are being targeted by highly organised gangs working across international borders in four areas; gold and jewellery transportation, smash-and-grab, distraction theft and card fraud.
“This threat is increasing as Financial Institutions and large retailers reduce cash transactions and it is important that British Jewellers know how best to protect themselves and their customers.”
Monday 1st September
One of the highlights of the programme will be ‘The Story of Green & Black’s: From a Portobello bedroom to a global ethical brand’, with Jo Fairley, the Co-Founder of the pioneering organic chocolate company Green & Black’s (with her husband Craig Sams).
In this seminar she will recount the company’s rollercoaster story, from a niche organic and Fairtrade brand to a global chocolate name, using specific incidents to illustrate important business rules well learnt.
Jo Fairley said: “The lessons we learnt at Green & Black’s are relevant to everyone growing a business and I am sure that they will strike a chord with the audience at IJL 2014.
“I also think it is important to demonstrate that good ethics can be good for business generally, which is particularly relevant at a time when CSR is increasingly important within the business agenda.”
Another feature session will be the open debate on ‘Pushing the boundaries of luxury’, facilitated by Adorn Insight’s Strategy Director, Juliet Hutton-Squire.
Here a panel of leading industry movers and shakers will turn tradition on its head and discuss the increasing relevance of creating and marketing luxury fine jewellery, in line with an influential, fashionable and self-purchasing female consumer.
Juliet Hutton-Squire elaborates: “With consumer expectations moving apace, the luxury fine jewellery industry can’t afford to lose momentum. Whilst timeless classics will always be a staple of this industry, the desire for new icons driven by fashion jewellery is on the increase especially as more ‘avant garde’ jewellery silhouettes become mainstream.”
Looking at the bigger picture, Tahiyya Jurdine, a Senior Research Analyst at Euromonitor International, will present an ‘Overview of the luxury jewellery market in the UK’ – providing a comprehensive overview of the Global Jewellery Market with a focus on where the UK sits within the global framework.
She will home in on key trends in the UK Jewellery Market and forecast the performance of the UK market through to 2018.
And, for those interested in honing their brand building skills, Christine Colbert, Managing Director of House Creative, will be giving a workshop ‘Communicating your difference’, as part of the Successful Retailing seminar stream.
As Christine explains: “Marketing is a huge challenge for independent retailers whose shops are becoming mini department stores showcasing the big brands, but leaving the retailer with a generic offering.
“We hope to add value through helping independents unearth their brands’ USPs. The workshops will provide straightforward one-to-one help and advice. We are hugely excited to join IJL in this initiative as our own philosophy is all about openness, transparency and return on investment!”
Tuesday 2nd September
The third day of IJL 2014 is set to be one of the busiest days for business and the seminar programme will also provide a powerful draw for visitors. As part of IJL providing an important industry platform to debate hot issues and topics, there will be a session led by the Creative & Cultural Skills and the British Allied Trades Federation, on driving forwards ‘A National Skills Academy for Jewellery’.
The panel discussion, chaired by Rob West from Creative & Cultural Skills, with panellists Simon Rainer (The BJA), Kate Madeline (National Association of Goldsmiths) and Marion Wilson (British Assay Office), will give a welcome opportunity to consider the skill challenges facing the sector – with the view to developing an employer-led network to inform industrial training standards for jewellery, silversmithing and allied crafts and a programme to enhance young people’s engagement with the industry.
“The Jewellery Skills Academy debate is the perfect platform to communicate how industry focussed training will re-shape jewellery education provision in the UK” said Kate Madelin, NAG Education and Training Manager.
She added: “Through our extensive research we have already identified the training needs of each sector in the UK jewellery industry and we wish to share this with the very knowledgeable IJL audience.”
Other not-to-be-missed sessions include ‘Expanding online – Translating your brand for overseas markets’. Kiyan Foroughi, CEO and Co Founder of Boticca.com – the online luxury bazaar for accessories – will explain and illustrate the intricacies of Boticca’s massive online expansion, including how best to adapt your brand to different geographies and what to be aware of to ensure expansion is a success.
And for fashion-led brands, where the latest trends are crucial for success, the seminar on ‘Street Style, translating high street and catwalk trends’, will be a must-attend event for retailers across all sectors of the market.
Maia Adams, Co-Director of IJL’s trend partner, Adorn Insight, will look at how the catwalks and street style influence the jewellery consumer’s taste and buying decisions.
This information packed ‘Trends’ seminar will cover fashion to fine jewellery.
The IJL seminar programme will be supported for the first time by a series of special Advice Clinics.
Sponsored by the NAG, the drop-in clinics have been designed to give visitors and exhibitors the opportunity to meet experts drawn from a diverse range of business disciplines, on a one-to-one basis during the show.
These invaluable, free practical sessions will run in half-hour slots and cover everything from business security, marketing and training to pensions, branding and visual merchandising know-how.
For full details of the IJL Seminar Programme, please visit: http://www.jewellerylondon.com/en/Seminar-Programme
IJL 2014 will run from 31 August to 2 September 2014 at Olympia Grand, London.
