MJSA FORMULATES STRATEGY, STRENGTHENS ITS FINANCES

Manufacturing Jewelers and Silversmiths of America has completed a year-long strategic planning process, the outgoing president, Fredric J. Hammerle, Stern Metals Inc., reported at the annual meeting, held in Providence, R.I., in late October.

As part of the reorganization, the chief elected officer will now hold the position of chairman and Alan Klitzner of Klitzner Industries Inc. was installed in that position at the meeting. Matthew A. Runci, who has held the title of executive director, now becomes president.

In his farewell remarks, Hammerle looked back on what he referred to as important milestones of his two-year tenure, a number of which occurred as a result of the planning. Among them:

Completion of the strategic plan itself.
MJSA now has 1,827 members, an increase of 6% from the year before.
The association is now in its strongest financial situation in many years, with a reserve totaling more than $1 million.
Increased value of the MJSA Expos, resulting in part by the move of the Providence Expo to the city’s new convention center and, in 1995, the New York event to the Javits Center.
A successful “national issues conference” in Washington organized by Matt Runci in which the industry had the opportunity to lobby a number of key legislators or their top aides.
Establishment of new links between MJSA and companion manufacturing organizations in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Creation of an MJSA pavilion at the American Gem Trade Association in Tucson. This will be in operation for the first time at AGTA’s Tucson event in February 1995.
Creation of the association’s NAFTAN Network. As a founding member of the alliance, MJSA is working with industry trade associations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to gather technical information from all three countries.
Bringing the publishing of the association’s magazine, American Jewelry Manufacturer, in house with a resulting increase in revenues to the association.
Making association business and social events more informal to encourage greater member participation.
Completion of a search for new office space. The association is relocating to slightly smaller and less expensive offices near the Capitol building in central Providence.

In his address, Hammerle also noted that in the past year “many jewelry manufacturers and suppliers have regained their confidence and optimism.”

CHICAGO JEWELERS TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

The Chicago Jewelers’ Association will add three more students to its scholarship program this spring.

Since the CJA Scholarship Foundation was formed three years ago, it has awarded more than $40,000 to deserving students. As of September 1994, six students were participating.

For information about the program, contact Mary Meyers, Chicago Jewelers’ Association, 11 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1400, Chicago, Ill 60603; (312) 201-0101, fax (312) 201-0214.

WELL-KNOWN ECONOMIST TO HIGHLIGHT IJO SEMINARS

Dr. Phillip Schneider, an economist and psychologist who recently joined the U.S. Department of Commerce as special liaison to the White House, will be the keynote speaker at the Master Independent Jewelers Organization Spring Seminar/Buying Show. The event will be held Feb. 18-23 in the Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, Cal.

Schneider, who is a regular on CNN’s “Business Today” and is cited frequently in The Wall Street Journal, is recognized as an expert on small-business growth. He will speak during the General Session, scheduled for 8:45-11 a.m. Feb. 19.

Other speakers:

Sales motivation expert David Richardson and his wife, Simone Bibeau, will look at how spouses can give and receive emotional support in “Fighting Fairly: Spouses Who Live Together and Work Together.” The presentation is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Feb. 19.
IJO President Jack Gredinger will present an IJO Business Workshop on “Your Money,” 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 2:30-4 p.m. Feb. 19.
Finance expert Steven LeFever will present “Working with Your Banker and Tax Man,” 2:45-4:45 p.m. Feb. 18 and 2-4 p.m. Feb. 19.
Design consultant Mariann Coutchie will present “Store Design Expert,” 5-6 p.m. Feb. 18.
Howard Herzog, a partner in an insurance agency and a former jewelry industry executive, will present “How to Buy Your Jewelers Block Insurance,” 6:15-7:15 p.m. Feb. 18.

Attendance is free at all of the preceding seminars.

The following IJO/GIA Title Program classes are scheduled: “Bezel Setting,” 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 20 and Feb. 22; “Pavé Setting,” 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Feb. 22; “Customizing Remounts,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 20; “How to Identify Fracture-Filled Gems,” Intermediate/Advanced, 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 20 and Feb 22; “Gem Identification Challenge,” Intermediate/Advanced, 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Feb. 22; and “A Day With Colored Stones,” 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 23.

The special IJO fee for GIA workshops and labs is $95 each, except for “A Day With Colored Stones,” which is $150.

For children of attendees, IJO will present “Tours for IJO Kids,” 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 19; “IJO Kids Lab,” 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 20; “IJO Teens Bench Class-GIA,” 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 20; and “IJO Kids Bench Class-GIA” and “IJO Teens Lab,” both 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 21.

Experts on various topics will be available to meet with IJO members on an individual basis throughout the event.

The IJO Buying Room will be open 4-9 p.m. Feb. 19, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Feb. 20-21 and 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 23.

Social events include a Monte Carlo Party Feb. 20 and the IJO Gala Banquet Feb. 23.

Post-convention options on Feb. 24 include a golf tournament at Half Moon Bay Country Club and trips to Lake Tahoe, Nev.; Carmel and Monterey, Cal.; and Maui, Hawaii.

IJO, Two Railroad Place, Westport, Conn. 06880; (800) 624-9252, fax (203) 454-4371.

TWO MORE JEWELERS JOIN JEF BOARD OF GOVERNORS

William Bubar of Bubar’s Jewelers, Santa Monica, Cal., and Mark Moeller of R.F. Moeller Jeweler, St. Paul, Minn., have been elected to the Jewelers Education Foundation Board of Governors. JEF, part of the American Gem Society, provides business and management training to fine independent jewelers nationwide.

Bubar is a second-generation jeweler and a former teacher and school administrator. He joined Bubar’s, a single-store operation in a regional mall, in 1985. The store offers seminars to teach consumers about diamonds.

Moeller, who speaks frequently as a JEF Foundation Fellow, owns R.F. Moeller Jeweler, which has experienced sales growth of 360% in seven years.

Jewelers Education Foundation, 2697 E. County Rd. E. #524, White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110; (612) 653-3919, fax (612) 653-3920.

OPENING OF CAPSULE OFFERS LOOK BACK IN TIME

The opening of a 56-year-old time capsule highlighted the American Watch Association’s annual dinner, held recently at Ridgeway Country Club in White Plains, N.Y.

Simon Critchell, president of Cartier Inc. and newly elected president of AWA, opened the capsule which had been sealed in 1938 by Edward Ingraham, president of E. Ingraham Co., a timepiece manufacturer in Bristol, Conn.

Over the years, Ingraham would walk alongside his production line and pick pieces representative of the product line that year. He would seal the timepieces in capsules and stipulate that they be opened on certain dates through the year 2025, then displayed in a museum as a way to perpetuate the industry’s history, says Robert J. Lagasse, managing director of the American Clock and Watch Museum. Ingraham was instrumental in founding the museum, which now houses the time capsules.

The recently opened capsule contained an array of kitchen and alarm clocks, a wood-case electric mantle clock and even two wooden cases that were made for the Emerson Radio Co. All contents of the capsule are now on display at the museum, which has more than 1,700 clocks, 1,600 watches and an extensive library of books, catalogs, photographs and documents related to horology.

AWA has endorsed the museum and is a supporter of its 1995 membership drive. Other major supporters include Seiko, SMH, UTAC, Fossil and the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

Helping Critchell to open the capsule were Bertram Kalisher, executive chairman of the industry committee for the museum and executive editor of Watch & Clock Review, and Roland Puton, president of Rolex Watch Co. A recent donation by Rolex enabled the museum to launch a major educational video project.

American Clock and Watch Museum, 100 Maple St., Bristol, Conn. 06010; (203) 583-6070.

NEW JERSEY JEWELERS HEAR KREMENTZ OFFICIAL

Michael Horowitz, executive vice president of Krementz & Co., Newark, N.J., was the keynote speaker at a recent meeting of the New Jersey Jewelers Association. Horowitz spoke about the importance of recognizing and cultivating the women’s self-purchase market.

PLUMB CLUB HONORS MARVIN MARKMAN

Marvin Markman has been appointed honorary chairman and lifetime voting member of the Plumb Club Board of Directors.

He received the title in recognition of his contributions to the organization as president from 1989 to 1992. The accomplishments included the planning and establishment of the Plumb Club Pavilion at the JCK International Jewelry Show in Las Vegas.

Markman is chief executive of Suberi Bros., New York, N.Y.

NEW MEXICO JEWELERS OFFER SOURCE DIRECTORY

The New Mexico Jewelers Association offers an updated Goods and Services Source Directory of retail jewelers, designers, manufacturers and suppliers of fine Southwestern and American Indian jewelry and related products and services. Send $2 for shipping and handling to the New Mexico Jewelers Association Directory, P.O. Box 3896, Albuquerque, N.M. 87190.