Company profile December 2011
Introduction Established in 1992, Jenna Clifford is a brand which is synonymous with passion, style and luxury. The company originally focused exclusively on jewellery design, however, today includes six innovative brands: Jenna Clifford Fine Jewellery, Renaissance by Jenna Clifford, Jenna Clifford Heirloom Objet d ‘Art; Dream Big; Jenna Clifford Trophies and the most recent addition, Mr.& Mrs by Jenna Clifford.
Jenna Clifford Jewellery By adding a personal touch to the purchase of jewellery and offering bespoke design with superior craftsmanship, Jenna Clifford is in a league of its own from a local and global perspective.
Initially working exclusively from the luxurious, glamorous and opulent studios in Morningside, Sandton, the company’s first clients became enchanted with the brand and with Jenna Clifford herself.
Before designing a piece, Clifford would ensure that each customer was completely at home and comfortable before spending some time with them to create the perfect piece - every design paying tribute to each client’s individual tastes and in most cases, spirituality.
As the client list grew, so did the company, and in 2002 the first retail Jenna Clifford boutique was opened in the Menlyn Park Lifestyle Emporium in Pretoria followed by another boutique in Cedar Square, Fourways. Each of these boutiques emulates the same personalised concept and signature style as the original Morningside studio.
Each Jenna Clifford creation is designed by Clifford herself, however, highly qualified designers who have received years of training from Clifford, honing their skills to create jewellery which carries the signature Jenna Clifford style, are also available by appointment for clients with customised orders.
The People behind the Brand Jenna Clifford and partner Dex Kotze launched the company in 1992. Clifford’s creative flair, zest for life, genuine desire to uplift people and her innate entrepreneurial spirit coupled with Dex’s business acumen and marketing know-how has created a company which has become a celebrated South African success story.
Jenna Clifford currently employs 68 people, and encourages and supports small entrepreneurs by outsourcing some of the company’s manufacturing requirements.
BEE and Social Investment With a BEE Scorecard rating of 67.33%, Jenna Clifford is dedicated to the development, training, skills transfer and upliftment of its employees and where possible, its suppliers. Jenna Clifford’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme is guided by its mission to contribute to the growth and transformation process in South Africa through the transfer of funds, skills and education with the aim of creating sustainability. During the last financial year, Jenna Clifford committed over R300 000 to social upliftment and human development initiatives.
Dream Big, a spirited philanthropic initiative, was launched in 2008 by Jenna Clifford and Olympic Gold Medalist Ryk Neethling, to inspire a visionary society and harvest the ideal that, to have a dream is to have hope. Their commitment to societal change has proven a unique force with positive and hopeful outcomes for all with a vested interest in Dreaming Big - especially for the children of Africa. One of the beneficiaries of the Dream Big project is the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation (WSPCF) - a philanthropic paediatric cardiac foundation for Africa, focusing on delivering life-saving surgery for underprivileged children with congenital heart disorders from across Africa. (www.wspcca.org.za).
Another project close to the company’s heart is the Jenna Clifford Land Rehabilitation Project in Mpumalanga which has seen Clifford and her team remove 160 000 harmful Blue Gum trees from 150 hectares of land. This land has been rehabilitated to grassland and a nursery has been opened on the property. Indigenous grasses and over 3000 indigenous trees have been planted to alleviate water consumption of alien species. Over 22 000 indigenous trees have been grown in the nursery, and 7000 of these trees have been planted. Tree planting is still in progress.
In addition to attracting a myriad of animal species to this land, these significant environmental enhancements have had a positive effect on the surrounding communities. The nursery currently employs 14 individuals who were previously unemployed. The team, who had very rudimentary gardening skills, has received training and are now equipped with horticultural skills such as seed propagation and landscaping.
Awards and Accolades Jenna Clifford herself is an accomplished businesswoman who has made a positive contribution to facilitating change for women in the work environment.
She orchestrated the successful amalgamation of three women’s businesses - The Executive Woman’s Club and ProWaldo (a black women’s business forum) with NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) to form the Business Woman’s Association.
In August 2008 Clifford was appointed a South African Ambassador and torch bearer for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals 3: Call to Action Global Campaign, which draws attention to the empowerment of women and gender equality. She shares this honour with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Other notable awards include: •
1997 Rentmeester/Rapport: Most Inspirational and Beautiful Women of South Africa
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2007 CEO Top Women in Business Award
The Essence of Jenna Clifford Designs Jenna Clifford Designs is so much more than the exquisite creations it produces – the entire company was developed with care and forethought. It is a South African brand which is passionate about this country. It encourages success and celebrates achievement.
Jenna Clifford Collections Jenna Clifford strives to capture an individual’s essence through bespoke design and superior craftsmanship. The utmost attention is devoted to the quality, cut and origin of their gemstones, pearls and other precious materials. Their beauty and rarity are the result of the most precise and demanding search and Jenna Clifford utilises only the most sought-after gemstones and pearls from the most exotic locations, and tolerates no imperfections. Always apparent in a Jenna Clifford custom-designed creation, is the flexibility and flair which brings originality to the signature designs. Artistic freedom melds with technical expertise to deliver pieces which inspire and delight. Ø
Jenna Clifford Fine Jewellery
Crafted in solid gold [750], Fine Jewellery by Jenna Clifford honours the ancient metals, gems and pearls surrendered to us by our powerful planet. Nothing in creation is without meaning and in developing fine jewellery, Jenna Clifford is acutely sensitive to the messages we receive from nature. She codes into her designs symbolic representations of you, your life, your dreams, aspirations and values systems. Every design pays tribute to you as a unique individual.
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Renaissance by Jenna Clifford
Renaissance is associated with significant and creative change. It gives birth to the unforgettable and gives us the opportunity to see things in a new light.
Crafted in solid gold [375], Renaissance by Jenna Clifford is the ultimate metropolitan glamour: an eclectic and contemporary brand, the expression of a changing world. It is a style without borders, which freely interprets the various influences of its own era, to become a unique and instantly recognisable Jenna Clifford collection.
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Jenna Clifford Heirloom Objet d ‘Art
Home is where the heart is. A gift for the home is a very intimate salute to someone for whom we not only have respect, but great affection too.
Jenna Clifford fine home and tableware encourages intuitive giving imbued with a wish. Crafted in the finest pewter, individually designed and master crafted to perfection, Jenna Clifford Heirloom Objet d ‘Art makes for exceptional corporate and private gifts.
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Dream Big by Jenna Clifford
The Dream Big initiative is powered by a unique collection produced by Jenna Clifford in the finest pewter and which is host to symbols which bring to light the power and importance of dreams, love, passion and truth.
The proud owner of a Dream Big creation is afforded the opportunity to hold an emblem representing the enlivened key values of Dream Big - Determination, Responsibility, Excellence, Aspiration and Motivation.
A percentage of proceeds from the sale of every Dream Big item goes towards The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation.
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Mr. & Mrs. by Jenna Clifford
The Mr. & Mrs. jewellery collection - incorporating designer rings, earrings, pendants and leather bracelets - unites high fashion with art jewellery. These authentic and symbolic creations are master crafted in solid white gold [375] and beautified by the most sought after diamonds and other precious stones. The inspiration behind this collection is the symbolic meaning of the rose, an element which resonates in many of Jenna Clifford designs. Combining exceptional craftsmanship and inspiration, the collection is chic, accessible and fun to wear. Ø
Jenna Clifford Trophies and Awards
Victory is a reflection of the highest of human desires. Because its attainment is so unusual and the process involved in winning is an accumulation of all that is exceptional, only the finest tributes will do.
Jenna Clifford - with her keen analytical eye, brilliant design, passion for her home country and the great who live in it - is South Africa’s most sought after designer for commemorative medals, awards and trophies.
Jenna Clifford’s commemorative designs include trophies for: •
The 1999 SA Open Golf
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The coveted winning teams SA vs. New Zealand
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Tri-nations rugby tournaments
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Man of the Match for the Italian rugby tour to South Africa
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Vodacom Man of the Match for all incoming rugby tests from 2000 to 2005
Furthermore, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Jenna Clifford designed the Women’s World Cup of Golf trophy: a globe of roses atop an inverted pyramid representing mind, body and spirit. The 39 individually carved roses symbolise love and beauty and together formed a single 40th rose – four being the number of balance and sustainability. More recently the Castle Test Series of 2009/10 cricket trophies, commissioned by SA Breweries were designed with the main trophy demanding over 90 hours of hand craftsmanship on its body work.
Clifford also had the privilege of designing the Avante Award bestowed on Nelson Mandela and the Anglo Gold ‘Ndoro Bowl’ for the President of Tanzania.
It is an honour for Jenna Clifford to be part of a salute to the best of human endeavour and the creation of commemorative designs that encourage others to follow and conquer.
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Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Jenna Clifford
Albertina Sisulu and Jenna
Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, Jenna Clifford and Dex Kotze
Jenna Clifford, Nelson Mandela and the Tenors
Jenna Clifford and former South African President Thabo Mbeki
Jenna Clifford and Bill Clinton
Jenna Clifford and Kimberlin Brown
Nelson Mandela with the Neslon Mandela trophy designed by Jenna Clifford
Percy Montgomery and Os du Rand with their trophies designed by Jenna Clifford
Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling, Jenna Clifford and Byran the Cheetha
Jenna Clifford and Debra Messing
Corne Krige with the tri-nations trophy designed by Jenna Clifford
jennaclifford.com Head office +2711 523 6600 Information desk info@jennaclifford.com