Emagold UK, the quality jewellery manufacturers’ association, has reported an excellent response to its participation in a series of regional meetings with jewellery retailers.
The group, which includes some of the country’s largest and most long-established jewellery producers, was the key sponsor for a series of three ‘Spring Summits’ staged by the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) in Leicester, Manchester and Bristol in May.
“The NAG was holding these events for its members and by providing our support we, at Emagold, were able to meet with retailers in a ‘round-the-table’ setting and discuss the pressing issues facing the entire jewellery supply chain. We had some frank and interesting discussions,” says Emagold chairman, Asa Harrison of Cookson Precious Metals.
“Emagold members pride themselves on offering a high quality product with real integrity and excellent service, but in a strongly competitive market this alone is clearly not a sufficient differentiator. We believe that reaching out to retailers, as we did at the Summits, tuning into their concerns and discovering those areas where our members can work with them to really add value is the way forward,” says Harrison.
As a result of the Summits Emagold is planning a ‘Retailer Open Day’ at some of its members’ factories in the Midlands early next year. “Understanding the manufacturing process can undoubtedly help to clinch a sale and we are looking forward to welcoming retailers and showing them the huge investment in technology and skill that goes into producing the jewellery on their shelves,” says Harrison.