RAPAPORT...
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Diamond Direct
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The 4Cs are not the only things that make a piece of diamond
jewelry a sales winner. In an ongoing series, Rapaport Magazine explores the
“3Ws” — what’s selling, what’s not and why — by going straight to the people
who really know — jewelry retailers. Each month, we ask a sampling of retailers
to comment on the important issues that are facing the industry today. Here is
what they had to say when asked: “Do you stock jewelry that is made in India?
Do you feature any Indian designer jewelry in your store?”
SCOTT BERG, MARKET PRESIDENT
LEE MICHAELS FINE JEWELRY
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
“Yes. I wouldn’t say so much that we have Indian designer
jewelry; I’m not familiar with that many brands that are extremely big in the
U.S. But definitely, the manufacturing capabilities in India are far and vast.
And we definitely do a significant amount of business with Indian suppliers,
from loose diamonds to manufactured goods — both bridal and also diamond-intense
items.
“We’ve been going to India for the past eight years and
buying directly there. Most of that is loose goods that we’re buying in India
but we have relationships with suppliers there that go way back.”
CAROLYN POPE, OWNER
CREWS FINE JEWELRY
GRANDVIEW, MISSOURI
“No, we don’t. I try to focus on as many of our American
manufacturers as I can. And I know some of them do have some of their work done
out of the country, but that’s understandable. It seems that more and more of
them are bringing goods back to the U.S. But it doesn’t have any bearing on my
buying per se. I get a lot of emails from people wanting to send directly from
India but I’m not sure I understand what might be involved in doing that from a
legal point of view. I know many do have offices in the States but it just
hasn’t been something that I felt a need to add to my mix in the store. I
choose based on what I see and what I like and that type of criteria.”
MICHAEL BRYANT, PRESIDENT
BRYANT & SONS, LTD.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
“I don’t. I haven’t come in contact with a lot of Indian
suppliers. Most of the shows I attend, I see my regulars or manufacturers from
Italy or other countries. I haven’t done any business with people from India.”
GINA BEVILL, SALES/APPRAISALS
SMITH & BEVILL JEWELERS
BEAVERTON, OREGON
“Not currently, no. We’ve been seeing them at shows but we
have trended toward more traditional vendors. We also do a lot of in-house
custom work, so we try to sell our own pieces. We have seen some interesting
bigger, fashion earrings using tiny old rose cut diamonds and color. But we
have not, as yet, put them in the store. It has just not come up for us to add
a line.”
BARBARA HIGHT-RANDALL, CO-OWNER
HIGHT & RANDALL PERSONAL JEWELER
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA
“We certainly buy from Vibhor and I know that they
personally are Indian but it’s not made there, it’s manufactured here in the
U.S. They do precision cutting, ideal cuts and that sort of thing. Otherwise,
it hasn’t come up.
“When I look for a new designer at a show, I don’t look
first as to where the jewelry is made. I look at the design, the construction
and how it would fit our store. It’s always great to support your own country,
but I think from my perspective as a businessperson, I need a bigger view than
that. If I find what I’m looking for and it’s made in the U.S. and the price is
competitive, then I’m right there.
“But at the moment, I haven’t seen any jewelry made in India
that fits our store. We are a small store and prefer to have fewer designers
and manufacturers. We’d rather be better partners with fewer persons than have
hundreds of suppliers.”
JIM SCHWARTZ, PRESIDENT
ROBIN JAMES JEWELERS
CINCINNATI, OHIO
“I buy from vendors who manufacture in India. It’s basic
bridal and earrings, anniversary rings, things like that.”
ED MENK, OWNER
E.L. MENK JEWELERS
BRAINERD, MINNESOTA
“We don’t have much jewelry that’s made in India. We try to
stay domestic. I’m not saying that I don’t occasionally buy it, but it’s not a
theme of ours. I just haven’t connected with an Indian supplier I feel
comfortable with at this time.”
PATRICK HOPMAN, CO-OWNER
HOPMAN JEWELERS
ELKHART, INDIANA
“We do buy India jewelry but it’s by way of a vendor where
it’s made in India and then brought over here. But it’s jewelry that’s more for
the American taste and not the Indian taste. The reality is that for the past
25 years, three-quarters of the traditional jewelry is made overseas. What we
do buy is the traditional diamond pendants, earrings, engagement rings…more
day-to-day merchandise. And part of it is the price points.”
PATRICK ELEBASH, OWNER
ELEBASH JEWELRY COMPANY
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
“No. I’m not opposed to it. I just don’t have any items
currently.”
WALTER BAUMAN, PRESIDENT
WALTER BAUMAN JEWELERS
WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY
“We do. We buy jewelry made in India. Diamond jewelry —
mostly fashion and mostly directly from Indian manufacturers. We’ve been doing
it for several years. We feel the quality has gotten better over the years. We
will continue to do so.”
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - August 2012. To subscribe click here.