Ann Schonwetter Arnold has resigned as CEO of bridal jewelry manufacturer Lieberfarb to start a consulting firm.
“I am both excited and feeling bittersweet to announce that I have decided to leave my home for the last 27 years, Lieberfarb,” Arnold wrote on Facebook. “Of course, I have no intention of leaving the industry, and I have decided to open my own company, the Arnold Advisory Group.”
Arnold’s last day at Lieberfarb is Nov. 1. She says that Gary Schulman and Donna Dean will be the two “point people” when she leaves.
Arnold tells JCK her new company will consult manufacturers and retailers on how to better run their businesses.
“I’m a CPA, and I always kept my CPA current,” she says. “I look at things from a financial perspective. I want to marry the financial side to the jewelry industry.”
For manufacturers, she feels she can help “bridge the gap” with retailers, by creating partnerships and putting new systems and programs in place. And for retailers, she can help update their systems, and work with them on in-house manufacturing.
“Do you know how many companies still do things by hand?” she says. “I’m a total Excel geek. There are so many things that people still do manually where they could save a huge amount of time.”
Arnold has been active in various jewelry organizations, including the Women’s Jewelry Association and 24 Karat Club.
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