Supplier News
Salesperson wins Krementz contest. Krementz & Co., Newark, N.J., chose Kara Petta of Frank Jewelers, Freeport, Ill., as the winner in the Krementz Mystery Shopper Program in February.A “mystery shopper” visited 200 Krementz accounts last summer pretending to look for a gift. Salespeople who offered Krementz jewelry as a first or second option and explained the jewelry’s selling points were awarded a certificate for a piece of Krementz jewelry and were entered in a drawing for a grand prize. Petta was picked from 170 winners and received a sapphire and diamond ring from the Krementz Gemstone Collection.Krementz announced it will run the program again in the second half of 1997 because it provided valuable sales training opportunities and resulted in increased sales.
SUPPLIERS ON THE GROW
KC Diamonds Inc., 68 W. 48th St., #602, New York City, changed its name to KC Designs.Christo Jewelers of Clinton, Conn., will move in early June to a larger location at 215 E. Main St. in Clinton.Candela Jewelry Inc., a manufacturer of 14k gold jewelry, will move its distribution and manufacturing facility on June 15 to 4507 N.W. 103rd Ave., Sunrise, FL 33351; (954) 746-0122, fax (954) 749-8852. The company will maintain its New York City sales, marketing and design office at 15 W. 37th St., 8th floor, New York, NY 10018; (212) 840-0172, fax (212) 221-1715.
Armand Jacoby moved its factory to a new facility next to its corporate office at 731 Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA 19106; (800) 355-1111 or (215) 953-9800, fax (215) 922-3385.
Atasay Gold Inc. expanded and relocated to 2 West 46th St., #1010, New York, NY 10036-4502; (212) 768-0048, fax (212) 768-9120.
People
Seiko names inoue president Chushichi Inoue was named president of Seiko Corp., Tokyo, Japan. He succeeds Masahiro Sekimoto, who has stepped down from active management of the company but will retain a seat on the board of directors.
Inoue, who had served under Sekimoto as executive vice president, was president of Seiko Corp. of America, the company’s U.S. operation, between 1979 and 1981.
AWARDS
Rick Miller of AAURA Inc. was awarded the title of registered supplier by the American Gem Society. Miller has more than seven years of experience in the jewelry industry. This appointment is made to an individual in the wholesale jewelry industry who is affiliated with an AGS company, has met a high standard of business conduct and has completed formal and comprehensive gemological studies. Bill Ruark was presented with the 1996 sales representative of the year award while working at Nili Corp. He covered the New England territory for the company. Ruark is now employed by Kirchner Corp.
Herb Lewis, formerly with Allison-Kaufman Co. and Bulova Corp., was recently elected to the Los Angeles Dodger Adult Baseball Camp Hall of Fame. Lewis, 81, has attended the Dodgers’ adult fantasy camp for the nine years.
Sydell Schubot of Jules R. Schubot Jewelers in Troy, Mich., was selected as one of Michigan’s top 25 women buiness owners of distinction. The greater Detroit chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners selected Schubot.