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RAPAPORT... Diamond brand Hearts On Fire held its annual Hearts On Fire University (HOFU) this past week in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it welcomed 650 partner retailers to the three-day event. In addition to course work, keynote speakers shared business insight and the latest trends in marketing strategy, including Erik Wahl, graffiti artist and UNTHINK founder, author Jeffrey Gitomer, Susanne Conrad of Lululemon Athletica and Scott Galloway of L2 Think Tank and professor from NYU Stern School of Business. For this year's HOFU, the company placed an especially strong emphasis on digital innovation for content and networking tools and even went paperless by providing mini iPads for all attendees. Education topics focused on digital marketing techniques for retail and hands-on workshops to address business practices, sales training, personal development and more.  “Consumer shopping habits have changed dramatically in the past few years and our goal was to refocus and reinvigorate the HOFU experience to reflect and embrace those changes,” said Gilly Strauss, the executive vice president of global sales for Hearts On Fire. “This year, we were able to integrate powerful changes to the program and provide educational and motivational tools that will impact our retail family immediately and, most importantly, during the upcoming holiday season.” Hearts On Fire also recognized its 2013 sales associate champions during the event, celebrated the induction of five retailers into its Hall of Fame and named its global 2013 retailer of the year as Bernie Robbins Jewelers of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Regional recognition included: · Midwestern Retailer of the Year: Wimmer’s Diamonds, Fargo, North Dakota · Northeastern Retailer of the Year: Bernie Robbins Jewelers · Southern Retailer of the Year: Thomas Markle Jewelers, Houston, Texas · Western Retailer of the Year: Simmons Fine Jewelry, Meridian, Idaho · International Retailer of the Year: Majesty Jewelers, St. Maarten · Rookie of the Year: Beaverbrooks, United Kingdom and Ireland
Hall of fame inductees included Greenberg’s Jewelers (Iowa); Hurts’ Berwyn Jewelers (Illinois); Michal C. Fina (New York); The Wedding Ring Shop (Hawaii) and Walters and Hogsett Fine Jewelers (Colorado).
The top sales associates that earned best-in-class champion status among five categories were: · Frank Krause, Lucido Fine Jewelry · Shawn Rummel, Meyers Jewelry · Mukesh (Max) Kumar, Noble Jewelers · Hae Yon Domingo, The Wedding Ring Shop · Shelley Fitzgerald, Smales Jewellers
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