COMINGS AND GOINGS
>>?Eric Sockol has joined Gemvara’s executive team as CFO. Before moving to the design-oriented Web company, Sockol was CFO of TechTarget, an online IT media firm.
>>?Frederick Goldman promoted Susan Chandler to senior VP of merchandising and brand management. Chandler will add brand management to her duties.
>>?Jewelers of America welcomed three new industry leaders to its board of directors: John Henne, owner of Henne Jewelers; Brian P. Mann, VP and co-owner of David Mann Jewelers; and Teresa Saldivar, owner of Teresa’s Jewelers.
>>?Zale Corporation has named Becky Mick senior VP, chief stores officer. Prior to joining Zale, Mick was VP, director of stores and operations for the Disney Store.
>>?Oris SA appointed Vito J. “V.J.” Geronimo CEO of its newly established U.S. and Caribbean subsidiary, Oris Watches USA.
>>?The Canadian Jewellers Association appointed Peter Norton chair of its board of directors. Norton owns Nortons Jewellers in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
ASSOCIATIONS
Alex Kucherenko
A perfume bottle pendant on display at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum
>>?Jewelers of America is letting retailers track the laws that impact them. JA’s State Legislation Tracking Center, made possible by a grant from the JCK Industry Fund, currently monitors sales tax fairness and jewelry product laws.
>>?A new exhibit of jewelry, cameos, and carved gemstones opens at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum in Ramat Gan, Israel, this month. Titled “And Thou Shalt Breathe Life Into a Gem,” the display comprises about 150 items valued at approximately $1 million.
>>?The Cultured Pearl Association of America is giving free membership to retailers. Members have access to sales training, pearl education, and promotional materials. Details at cpaa.org
HONORED
Joseph Toobi
>>?At the Leading Jewelers Guild’s July meeting in Newport Beach, Calif., Gene Thompson (of Thompson Jewelers in Orlando) received the 2009 Leader of the Year award. Joseph Toobi of Luminar received the 2009 Vendor of the Year award.
>>?The 24 Karat Club Southeastern United States named Ingrid Strange 2010 Jeweler of the Year at its 36th annual black-tie banquet in Atlanta on Aug. 7. Strange owns Ingrid’s Jewelers in Daleville, Ala.
REMEMBERED
>>?John Lauseng, 44, owner of West Palm Coin & Jewelry Exchange in West Palm Beach, Fla., died of gunshot wounds after an apparent robbery July 26. Police believe he was trying to escape when he was shot.
>>?Harry Bock, CEO and owner of Bachendorf’s in Dallas, died July 12 of a heart attack at age 80. Bock launched what became the Bachendorf’s jewelry chain in Dallas in 1977.
FINANCIAL
>>?Blue Nile reported its second-quarter sales increased 9.7 percent to $76.6 million. However, net income was $2.8 million, down 1.4 percent from the same period last year.
>>?On July 23, Harry Winston Diamond Corp. announced its plans to purchase Kinross Gold Corp.’s 9 percent indirect interest in Canada’s Diavik mine for $220 million.
OPENING
>>?Marshall’s Jewelers in Milford, Mass., is opening its second store, a 3,300-square-foot location in Bellingham, Mass., this month.
CLOSING
>>?Frank L. Moose Jeweler, an 83-year-old Roanoke, Va., retailer, is closing on Dec. 31. Owner Geoff Jennings will open a new venture, F. Geoffrey LTD, in March 2011.