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By Rapaport News
Cartier Releases New Films for Campaign 
   Cartier published two new short films for its “The Proposal” campaign on YouTube, shared via social media. The clips, titled “Jump Right In” and “My Favorite Song,” tell the stories of two couples who meet by accident and eventually get engaged with a Cartier engagement ring. The first iteration of “The Proposal” campaign was launched before Valentine’s Day 2015, with videos of three couples in Paris.

Signet Confirmed Conflict Free
   Signet Jewelers was confirmed “conflict free” for the fourth consecutive year as it submitted its Conflict Minerals Report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The report was filed in accordance with Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires companies working with “conflict minerals” — including gold — to provide evidence of being conflict free. Signet is one of four companies that has audited and reported its gold as conflict free. As part of its efforts to advance responsible sourcing in the past four years, Signet — a founding member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Multi-Stakeholder Group — has helped develop a guidance for responsible supply chains in high-risk areas. The company also launched the open source Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocols (SRSP) for gold, diamond, silver and platinum group metals and more.

DPA Outlines Campaign Efforts
   The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) launched plans for its “Real is Rare” campaign in 2017 during the JCK Las Vegas show. The campaign will include print and digital display advertisements, as well as “out-of-home” advertising including billboards, that complement videos aired on television and digital media in October 2016. The campaign promotes diamond jewelry as an unmistakable gift of love.

• The new ads launched in July 2017 and will appear in weekly and monthly magazines, including Brides, People and Marie Claire.
• The still images are available for use in-store and in local media.
• DPA engaged creative agency Mother New York for the shoots. They focused mainly on diamond engagement and wedding jewelry.
• Jewelry suppliers for the shoot included Gillian Conroy, Danhov, Greenwich Street Jewelers, Beverly K., Leo Schachter and Pluczenik.
• There are plans to debut further videos in the fourth quarter for digital media and television.

Majority of Millennials Purchase Offline
   Online coupon directory CouponFollow released “The Millennial Shopping Report: Summer 2017” revealing that 53 percent of Millennial consumers still make purchases offline. The report found the consumer group — defined as those born between 1982 and 1996 — account for 28 percent of all daily per-person consumer spending, and could rise to 35 percent by 2030.

• Retailers were advised to bridge the gap between online and offline experience.
• Engagement with brands occurs only when relevant to the transaction or shopping experience.
• 76 percent of Millennials browse the internet before making an online or offline purchasing decision.
• Only 57 percent of Millennials follow brands on social media. The primary reason they follow brands is to receive cost-saving offers and incentives.

Rio Tinto $1.4 Million Coins Minted
   Rio Tinto and the Perth Mint released the “Australian Trilogy,” a collection of three coins valued at $1.4 million, featuring colored diamonds from the Argyle mine. The coins are minted in yellow gold, rose gold and platinum, and are set with a pink, purple-pink or violet diamond.

• They weigh 1 kilogram each and portray images of a koala, a kangaroo and a kookaburra, a kingfisher native to Australia and New Guinea.
• The collection is available for sale from the mint and is the only edition to exist.
• The coins are legal tender under the Australia Currency Act 1965.

Royal Asscher Launches Program at JCK
   Royal Asscher, holder of the Royal Asscher cut patents, partnered with diamond manufacturer Treliss Worldwide to launch a loose diamond program for independent retailers at the JCK Las Vegas show. The program, which includes the Royal Asscher Cut and Royal Asscher Brilliant, was created due to strong demand for Royal Asscher Brilliant diamonds in the jewelry category. Royal Asscher and Treliss Worldwide have been partners for two years expanding and strengthening the Royal Asscher brand.

Gabriel & Co. Unveils Marketing Strategy
   Gabriel & Co., a New York City-based jewelry designer, announced its new omnichannel strategy at the JCK Las Vegas show. The company launched its first e-commerce site, allowing shoppers to select a Gabriel & Co. retail partner from which they can buy the product.

• For bridal jewelry, Gabriel & Co. will then ship the jewelry to the retail store where the customer can view the product in person.
• For fashion jewelry, shoppers orders can be drop shipped directly through the e-commerce site, or through an embedded fashion e-shop widget on a retailer’s site. Profit from sales made through the widget goes to the retailer.
• Gabriel & Co. has also updated its B2C and B2B site with a new product configurator.
• The company also updated its Gabriel Magic app, a virtual reality (VR) tool introduced at JCK Las Vegas in 2016. The app allows a 360-degree rotation view of any piece in the Gabriel & Co. jewelry collection. The updated version now includes augmented reality technology, allowing consumers to “try on” selected engagement rings, customize metals and stones and order the jewelry through a local retailer, via the app.

Edelstein Memorial Auction Raises $21,750
   The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group (CJDG), with support from The Couture Show, raised $21,750 during the inaugural Cindy Edelstein Memorial Auction, held to honor the namesake industry veteran. The proceeds will be split between the Jewelers for Children Fund and the Women’s Jewelry Association’s (WJA) Cindy Edelstein Scholarship Fund. CJDG members created 35 jewelry pieces from gemstones sponsored by ANZA Gems and Mayer & Watt. The pieces were auctioned over two weeks on a specially created online auction website.

A.Jaffe Unveils Pirouette Ring at JCK
   A.Jaffe, a New York City-based jewelry manufacturer, debuted its patent pending Pirouette ring at the JCK Las Vegas show in celebration of the company’s 125th anniversary. The ring features a twist mechanism that allows the wearer to transform the ring from a north-south configuration to an east-west configuration. The ring is available in gold or platinum.

Article from the Rapaport Magazine - July 2017. To subscribe click here.

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