In The Loup October 2012

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Hitting all the right notes in 2013!

It’s less than 100 days until our Spring Buying Show in Phoenix, but what excitement! THE Shopping Season is soon going to be in full swing, family and friends will be gathering for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s will follow, and we’ll even have an inauguration. Wow!

After you kick off your shoes, kick back and relax a bit, RJO will get you ready to “Rock & Restock” at the end of January. We’re returning to the beautiful Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix, offering a terrific line-up of keynotes, seminars and work sessions, as well as the latest and greatest offerings from our vendors.

Inside this issue you’ll find a sneak peak of the best show perks we’ve ever offered, and we’re providing it so you can make your travel plans now, before the sales rush starts.

Keep an eye on your mail for the Show Registration Packet that will be sent out before Thanksgiving. Registration Deadline is December 17 for Vendors and December 28 for Jewelers.

loupe

inside • Decorating

• Marketing Matters: Focus, Focus, Focus

• New Feature: Meet the RJO Staff

The Ultimate Jeweler Resource

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from Mary Peterson, CEO, RJO

Decorating

love to decorate my home for every holiday season! I have your old inventory ... maybe you can display it in a new, fun way to try to move it along. Simple actions can make a big Fall items up the week before Labor Day, and my difference!

Halloween décor comes out as part of my birthday celebration on September 16th. Now you need to know ...

Recently I, along with other RJO stores, attended the Stuller I have some really cool stuff, especially my fiber-optic ghost Bridge Program. What an incredible experience of and the candy bowl that sounds like a witch cackling when rejuvenation and futuristic thinking. you go to take candy from it. It’s not really so much of the program focused on the specific decorations I have that make decorating When was the last Part creating an overall buying experience so much fun, but rather changing up the space in in your store.

Spending time time you looked which I live. It really does add a new spark and evaluating our stores’ buying creates enjoyment in my life. at the physical experience was very valuable. We The physical space in which you work and live is were able to discuss not only the space of your more important than you may realize. Recently I visual displays and layout of stores, store or office? changed my home office space. I did some major but scent marketing, auditory purging of old files and got furniture more conducive stimulation and physical touch ... to the room space. I feel like a whole new person, and now the art of decorating was taken to a whole new level. my productivity, energy and creativity has seen quite the Decorating really goes beyond the actual tangibles you boost. I had been putting it off for months with the age-old excuse, “I don’t have time to get this done.” No doubt I had to modify. It is all about your attitude in regards to change and how often you challenge yourself against the status quo. shake myself afterwards and say, “Why did I wait so long?”

Sometimes I wonder if we should re-decorate ourselves by When was the last time you looked at the physical space of changing some old habits and thoughts? Maybe we should all your store or office? How many times have you put off hang some new pictures in our minds or at least add some making changes? You don’t have to spend a lot of money to add some spark. Ask your staff – they are the best folks to ask magic dust to our thoughts. in searching for ideas to update your space. Taking time to brainstorm ideas with them or even putting them in charge could make a big difference.

Take some time to go through all of those random papers on your desk, and get rid of what you don’t need. Take a look at

RJO CEO

Board of Directors leads RJO group to Stuller Bridge Event The RJO Board of Directors, Merchandise Review Committee, ten select RJO stores, and members of RJO’s leadership team attended the Stuller Bridge Event in Lafayette, LA from October 15-17.

Stuller’s conference for independent retail jeweler owners focuses on becoming tomorrow’s jeweler. Attendees met with forerunners in customization, sales merchandising and media, and collectively arrived at fresh approaches to excellence in service.

Stuller recognizes how the jewelry industry is changing, and has designed structured solutions that include new in-store selling technologies, customization tools and expanded virtual inventory.

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“Stores left equipped to make promising changes to how we do business —to ensure growth and greater profitability,” said RJO CEO Mary Peterson. “We were all impressed with Stuller and Stuller’s commitment to educating today’s jeweler for tomorrow’s consumer.”

For members interested in attending the 2013 Stuller Bridge Event with the RJO group, please contact Sarah Streb at sarah@rjomembers.com.

See event photos on the bottom of page 6

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JewelConnect to launch 2.0 in Phoenix JewelConnect 2.0 is going to “really blow people away,” says Andrew Boundy, JewelConnect’s web developer and systems manager. “We are deeply integrating social media, we have new great tools like the ‘Gift Finder App,’ which helps people choose gifts for friends, as well as some very cool ‘Trending’ functions to show hot sellers and popular items,” he adds.

JewelConnect.com 2.0, the successful RJOexclusive internet & mobile marketing system—used by more than 600 RJO retailers and many RJO vendors—is a total redesign of the system, incorporating the best new marketing technologies. New systems featured include the “JewelProfile” system, which creates and shares personal jewelry profiles, the “Trending” system, and “fast-movers.” There’s the retailer “Pin To” feature and a lot more—such as mobile apps!

Boundy and Thomas Roethling, Incom’s data systems manager and developer, will be presenting at the Phoenix Buying Show in January. Roethling says that RJO members can look out for the changes popping-up over the next several months and that they will make themselves available throughout the Buying Show for any jeweler questions.

Remember to log-in to JewelConnect at: www.jewelconnect.com/for-jewelers and you can always email any questions to: sales@jewelconnect.com.

From the RJO Chat Room

SERVICES Centralized Billing Patronage Dividend RJO Website (rjomembers.com) Buying Shows (Fall/Spring) RJO Chat Channel In the Loupe – RJO’s newsletter Free Print and Radio Ad Library (on the RJO website) Educational Seminars (at the Buying Shows) Member-to-Member Incentive Program (Recruitment Program) Organized Buying Trips to Antwerp and Idar-Oberstein RJO Directory Peer Performance Program Travel Vouchers at Shows (offered at varying times) Free Hotel Room Incentive (at the Buying Shows) RJO Informational E-mail Blasts Purchase Vouchers (at the Buying Shows) RJO Membership Certificate Education on the Go Podcasts and Webinars Private Label Credit Card Service JewelConnect

The Chat Room on the RJO website (www.rjomembers.com) hosts a variety of interesting discussions each month. Here’s an edited recent post—and responses to it—that can be found in the RJO Jeweler Business area, under the heading “Mall Rent”

Question: We are looking at renewing our lease. For the past 13 years we were paying $19 per square foot (psf); now they are proposing $35 psf. I just cannot believe that they are serious. What is anyone else paying?

Response 1: More than 20 years ago, when we were in our mall, we paid about $33 psf.

Response 2: Years ago I had seven stores in malls. At that time it varied between $40-$55 psf, plus six percent. I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in the Pacific Northwest I know jewelers that are on a straight five percent, or pay month-to-month at a reasonable rent in some of the same malls. I was paying $150,000 per year.

If $35 psf is still only five-seven percent of your gross, I would consider staying. I've downsized to one store in a strip center about a mile from a mall that we were in for 28 years, and my rent is about two percent of my gross.

Advantages include short hours, no CAM fees, advertising costs, etc. The big plus is we no longer sell the same merchandise that we—and most other mall jewelers—sold.

I would stay if your store is profitable for you, meaning you take well over $100,000 in salary, otherwise move to a strip center or free-standing store. You might even ask the mall for a month-to-month agreement for a year so you can scout other locations.

Good luck!

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The RJO Antwerp/Idar-Oberstein family is growing As if touring Europe wasn’t special enough,Tracey Bentley, of Bentley’s Fine Jewelry and Repair in Scottsbluff, NE, proposed to Katie Ewing in front of the Cathedral in Antwerp; the date was October 16th (photo below). Ewing had previously

picked out her own stone, thinking she was selecting it for a good friend of hers.

Reports are that it was a complete surprise and that Katie said, “yes.”

According to trip coordinator Connie Matsen, this year’s trip set a record, with 14 first-time stores traveling. In total, the two RJO groups comprise about 80 travelers. Both groups traveled in Germany to the beautiful Wartburg Castle founded in 1067AD in Eisenach, Germany, as well as the Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

Click here to see more European Trip photos

Save the Date: 2013

Antwerp: Oct 5-10; Oct 12-17 ; Idar-Oberstein: Oct 10-14; Oct 17-21 first trip is hosted by Liz Schlauch & Jeff Horlacher; the second by Connie & Steve Matsen

Israel 2013

RJO is inaugurating a new foreign trip, this time to Israel and beginning next year. The first trip will run from Friday, October 18 to Saturday, October 26 in 2013.

Members booking their trips before January 2013 will receive an additional two percent discount on all of their purchases while buying on the trip.

For more information on the 2013 Israel Buying Trip, please contact the RJO office via phone 800-247-1774, or e-mail: rjo@rjomembers.com

New RJO website should be “live” by end of year RJO has partnered with Global Reach, Oliant Solutions and Integrity Data to develop a new RJO website. Work has been going on behind the scenes for much of this year, and migrating data from the current site into the new one will begin shortly.

“We are so pleased with the progress and the significant improvement this site will bring to members,” says RJO CEO Mary Peterson. “Our current site was created last century, and the technologies available to improve the site’s usefulness are simply amazing.”

Global Reach is finalizing the database tables and fields with Integrity Data, and each will be making the necessary changes to

both systems. These changes will allow the new RJO site to synchronize with the dynamics database and will support the online billing integration effort to be completed and fully integrated with the new site. As an added benefit, RJO will have a fully synchronized copy of the Dynamics database hosted in Global’s datacenter. This copy would help RJO in a disaster recovery scenario, if ever needed.

The RJO management staff has been hard at work developing the content copy for the new website. Aside from putting together targeted content that will be used for the internal ‘members only’ site, one of the primary goals of the new website is to market RJO, in a more public way. A larger focus was put towards developing a great content framework that truly tells the RJO story and helps perform better outreach to potential members and vendors.

Over the next few weeks, all of the content we have provided will be pulled into the new site. Training also will be provided to the RJO staff on how to use the new content management system.

Development work will also continue on integrating dynamics and online billing system into the Global system.

“Once that is complete,”says Peterson, “we will begin to finalize and implement all the new online forms, newsletters, and other new tools and features that Global will be providing with the new site.”

Testing will begin soon, and the new RJO site is scheduled to be available before the end of the year.

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VENDOR

spotlight

W.R. Cobb Company: A Union of Tradition and Technology

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espite celebrating its 135th birthday this year, W.R. Cobb Company is far from showing its age. One of America’s leading manufacturers of jewelry findings, castings and precious metals for the jewelry industry internationally, the company has embraced new technology and the internet to help redefine a wide range of jewelry industry practices.

“We have never been more relevant to the industry than we have been the last three years,” says Roderick Lichtenfels, W.R. Cobb Company CEO. “We have incredible services and programs that help our retail partners affordably go to market. If retailers have not looked at our products or services for the last few years we encourage them to look at us with new eyes and let us share what’s new and possible.”

Lichtenfels says the privately held, family-owned company got its start in 1877. Its global headquarters is in East Providence, Rhode Island, with international offices in Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Vietnam and Canada. The Rhode Island headquarters features a modern 104,000-square foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

“As a leading internet jewelry solutions company,” says Lichtenfels, “we provide regional, independent jewelers with a pathway to internet success. Through W.R. Cobb Online, jewelers can compete on the internet. Launched in 2004, W.R. Cobb’s Precise White Gold is the industry’s only true white gold. Precise White Gold has been one of the greatest innovations in jewelry in the past 70 years.”

solutions—white labeled as internet widgets—offer more than 60,000 certified stones, social media education and management services, and pay-per-click advertising campaigns. Our competencies and offerings to independent jewelry retailers have not only gained tremendous recognition and traction in the jewelry industry, but is also garnering attention as a best-in-class approach by other industries and associations.”

This past year W.R. Cobb Online received an American Design Award by GD USA for its educational program entitled, “Social Media 101: How Jewelers can Engage and Interact More Effectively Online.”

This effort to lead industry innovations has made W.R. Cobb’s relationship with RJO that much more effective.

“RJO was founded by independent jewelers essentially looking, at the time, to increase their buying power, which was the biggest operating expense in their budget” says Lichtenfels. “W.R. Cobb Company also seeks to matter to independent jewelers (and the entire jewelry value chain), by bringing quality products and services to the market. RJO Buying Shows give us another opportunity to have a fabulous touch point to understand the needs and desires of the independent jeweler.”

W.R. Cobb Company is located at 800 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI. Phone: 401-467-7400. Website: www.wrcobb.com

“Building on the momentum of superior products we offer,” he continues, “W.R. Cobb introduced Cobb Bridal, an exclusive collection of wedding bands and engagement rings with more than 5,000 unique design options. Every day at W.R. Cobb, we leverage our depth of experience and the talent of our team of metallurgists and designers to ensure that we offer the industry the finest line and the industry’s most important innovation.”

“We have evolved over the last three years and have grown to be a full-service marketing model that helps retailers (independent and majors) achieve their own go-to-market aspirations,” says Lichtenfels. “W.R. Cobb Online, our retail services division, offers programs ranging from inventory management solutions, web site/e-commerce software-as-a-service, diamond memo and diamond build-your-own jewelry solutions. These PAGE 5

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Five Myths Holding your Bridal Business Back!

By Laura Cave, The Knot Wedding Network

Editor’s Note: RJO welcomes The Knot as a new vendor. We are pleased to offer this article; it is an example of the quality of information found on their popular web network.

Myth #3: Couples only Care about Price Guess again! Our survey revealed that the bride’s number one concern is the style and setting of the ring, whereas the groom cares most about stone quality. Address these concerns to make a sale that delights both your customers and your bottom line!

Today’s brides and grooms are millennials, which means they’re more educated, busier, and more tech savvy than any generation of customers before them. Are you still doing business as usual? You might be buying into common myths that are holding your bridal business back!

Myth #4: Couples only Consider a Few Rings Couples told us they consider an average of 27 rings at 4 retailers, so it’s important to carry inventory in order to keep them in store.

Myth #1: The Groom Picks out the Ring Actually two-thirds of brides are involved in the ring selection process. They research rings on the internet and 20 percent even visit a jeweler* without their fiancé to try on styles.

Myth #2: Women on Bridal Sites Already Have Engagement Rings This one simply isn’t true. In a survey of more than 10,000 women who used The Knot to plan their weddings, 40 percent told us they first came to the site before they had a ring. With dozens of designers marketing in The Knot Engagement Ring Tool, consider listing your business** so that when a bride falls in love with a particular design she can come try it on in person in your store.

Myth #5: The Bridal Customer Opportunity is in the Engagement Ring If you’re only selling them the engagement ring, you could be missing an additional $2,500 in average spending per couple on wedding bands, wedding day gifts and bridal party gifts. Keep in touch with the couple after the sale in order to earn their loyalty, and compete for that additional business. *All data in this article is from The Knot Market Research 2011 Jewelry and Engagement Study **Our Jewelry Store Referral Program allows brides to discover which jewelers in their area carry the designs in our Engagement Ring Tool. We refer hundreds of hot leads to jewelry stores every day! Contact our jewelry specialists Nikole Spangler at nspangler@theknot.com or Christina Donnally at cdonnally@theknot.com for more information.

Stuller Bridge: Be Tomorrow’s Jeweler October 15-17 • Lafayette, LA

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RJO Spring Buying Show – Rock & Restock • January 26 - 28, 2013 • Phoenix, AZ

Two years ago, more than 250 RJO jewelers made the Spring Buying Show in Phoenix a record-breaker. We’re returning to the same venue in January, this time to “Rock and Restock.”

Phoenix is renowned for it’s sun, sand, saguaros and spas, but we’ll add to that with three days of camaraderie, learning, and buying. Plans are already set for popular training sessions, great keynotes, receptions, roundtables, Hyatt Regency Phoenix and, of course, an evening gala.

Whether you take advantage of the warm temperatures, hot food or cold drinks, Phoenix offers just the right touch for a working weekend away.

In addition to the great deals you’ll find on the Buying Show floor, RJO has set up a number of membership benefits as well, highlighted below.

RJO has partnered with Southwest Discovery Tours to offer Spring Buying Show attendees exclusive Arizona tours. The slate includes exciting full-day and half-day tours (Friday and Tuesday only), including several new ones. Ordering instructions, costs, and indepth tour descriptions will be included in

the Registration Packet due in November.

FULL-DAY TOURS THE GRAND CANYON and the Navajo Indian Reservation

SEDONA and a visit to JEROME TUCSON [ New! ]

HALF-DAY LOCAL TOURS Made in Hollywood – EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE [ New! ] An exclusive VIP tour to the Jeweler of the rich and famous. [ New! ]

Additionally, members are being offered a broad selection of fullday and half-day tours, described further in the box to the right.

DIAMONDS AND DENIM

Rock & Restock: free rooms, vouchers, discounts and more ...

RJO Members Stay Free

RJO will pay for up to three consecutive nights’ lodging for all qualifying stores. Reservations must be made directly through the hotel or www.rjohotel.com.

Get a $250 Travel Voucher

Register by December 28 to receive a $250 Travel Voucher. Only dues-paying members with accounts in good standing will receive a voucher. Phoenix Buying Show Travel Vouchers are provided through the generosity of RJO vendors.

American Airlines Group & Meeting Travel Specials

RJO has partnered with American Airlines to provide show attendees a 5 percent discount for the 2013 RJO Spring Buying Show. Valid travel dates for this discount are Jan. 21-Feb.1, 2013. Access American’s fares online, and apply this discount at: www.aa.com to book your flight. Place the Promotion Code 5513BW in the promotion code box, and your discount will be calculated automatically.

More: Purchase Vouchers, Sunday Lunch Coupons, Cash-Giveaways, Meet-A-Vendor Challenge, and “Rock the Night Away” evening gala PAGE 7

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Marketing Matters: Key to a successful 2013: Focus, focus, focus

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love going to the grocery store. My wife Sue is not a big fan of it, so I have pretty much picked up those duties at the house. What I have found though— some of it through my experience and most of it through Sue’s constructive criticism— is that if I go to the store hungry or without a detailed list, I will come back with much more than I needed, and I am likely to be missing some of the key items that I went to purchase initially.

I see advertisers in the market struggle with this same concept everyday. They don’t have a list (marketing plan) so when they go shopping (buying media) it is difficult to be as focused and effective as they need to be. Often they plan month-tomonth, going, from media “opportunity” to “opportunity,” yet never gaining any traction.

To have the best chance of success with your marketing and advertising next year (you are planning already for next year aren’t you?) here are a few tips that I have seen work for a variety of retailers over the years.

• Have a plan for the year.

Plan to be very visible during your peak periods and less-so during those times when you are not busy. In the old days this was referred to as “making hay while the sun shines.” Revisit your plan each quarter, and make adjustments if you have to, but don’t be too quick to change it.

Also, don’t be too anxious to change the substance of your creative message. A well thought-out and produced campaign should be capable of running for at least three years.

• Identify your best customers and prospects, and decide what your message needs to be to influence their purchasing decision.

Every store will have its own “niche,” whether that be price, quality, volume, etc. Just remember that the service and professionalism that you offer has to be part of any message. Customers these days don’t expect it, they demand it.

• Determine your budget, but leave a few dollars (as much as 10 percent) set aside for “opportunities.”

If your entire budget is spent early, you will not have a chance to take care of truly special buying opportunities. One thing that we know for sure with media reps is that they will bring you truly special opportunities from time-to-time.

• Once your message is clear, choose the media that will best convey that message to your best customers and prospects.

A media mix is always the best option, but tight budgets might make that less feasible. Remember that you are in the jewelry business, and visuals are key. Use print and television to carry the “sizzle,” and utilize radio to help drive traffic to your store.

• Look for, ask for—insist upon— opportunities to set yourself apart from your competition, increase your effectiveness and/or save yourself some money.

Purchase as much media as you can up-front, even now if you can. You will pay lower rates, and you have a better chance of not being bumped if you are signed up on an annual plan.

• Implement strategies that will further your chances of success.

Don’t spread your budget too thin, don’t buy because you like the rep, and don’t buy too many stations, thus diluting your effectiveness. Be strong where you feel your best impact is. Skip a week or two to allow your “on” weeks to be more impactful.

These and many other concepts will help you get the most out of your advertising dollars and move you closer to a very successful 2013.

Start your plan today!

Michael C. Woody is President and Chief Idea Officer of Capital Ideas. He has nearly 30 years of experience in television advertising and loyalty marketing. Phone: 515-556-5373.

E-mail: MichaelC@ideas2burn.com Website: www.ideas2burn.com

Want to hear more from Mike Woody? There’s a podcast for that Episode 1 (April 2011): Getting That Marketing Edge RJO CEO Mary Peterson talks with Michael Woody from Capital Ideas about ideas for improving your marketing.

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Meet the RJO Staff: Connie Miller

or more than 25 years, Connie Miller has been the money person at RJO. Starting in 1986 as a data entry clerk, Connie’s ability to negotiate the world of accounting software, taxes and billing, has earned her the role of RJO’s financial manager.

Unless you’re a paper pusher or tech-head, Miller’s job may sound a bit overwhelming.

“I reconcile, balance and process financial statements, reports and jeweler/vendor accounts,” says Miller. “I also maintain investments and checkbooks, process 1099s for the IRS, pay office bills, setup and build new EDI vendors, process EDI, and assist in payroll.”

Miller also serves as computer liaison and audit liaison, and she helps with the setup of member/vendor accounts.

She grew up around Newton Iowa, where RJO is headquartered.

An Iowa farm girl at heart, Miller says she has raised cattle, hogs, fields of corn and beans; I “have baled my share of hay.”

“I now live in the small town of Searsboro,” says Miller. “It’s a 30minute commute to Newton to work, but you can’t beat small town living! It’s very peaceful and worth it to have the kids in small town schools!”

Miller is mother to two girls in college, and her free time revolves around football and motocross races.

“We find ourselves running to games every weekend,” she says, “when we aren’t flagging at motocross races.” Her racing interest isn’t just limited to watching.

“You can catch me putting an engine in a car now and then.”

She also helps setup and clerk at estate sales. “It’s my cousin’s business, and it’s amazing some of the treasures we can find,” says Miller.

Connie Miller can be reached at: connie@rjomembers.com

Latest RJO Podcast looks at Customer Protection One of RJO's new initiatives last year was the launch of Education-on-the-Go podcasts, entertaining and educational discussions, ranging from building your customer database to ensuring you maintain your focus on customer service.

These podcasts are about a half-hour in length, and are aimed at helping you with your overall marketing plan.

Episode 7 was released at the end of September.

http://rjojeweler.com/wordpress

Make Sure RJO Has Your Most Up-to-Date E-mail Address

Episode 1: Getting That Marketing Edge

Episode 5: Vendor Relationship Tidbits

Episode 2: The Art of Gold Selling

Episode 6: How Evaluations Can Help

Episode 3: Becoming Tomorrow’s Jeweler Episode 4: Family + Fun = Success

RJO CEO Mary Peterson speaks to Amy, Brian, and Jennifer from Beeghly and Company Jewelers about “Employee Empowerment…..How Evaluations CAN Help.”

Learn how to implement an evaluation program into your

store with first-hand knowledge from one of our own RJO members and staff.

Episode 7: Jewelry Security 101: Protecting Your Customers RJO CEO Mary Peterson talks to Tammy Ross from Windle’s Jewelry about how you can help your customers protect their jewelry.

To make our contacts with you more efficient and timely, RJO is increasing the use of e-mail as a contact medium.

From regular electronic newsletters to buying show announcements, our e-mail notifications are getting more common and more important.

If you’ve changed your e-mail address lately or would prefer to receive RJO communications at a new or different address, please let us know.

Address updates and changes can be directed to Mary Harger in the RJO office at: mary@rjomembers.com or call the RJO office at: (800) 247-1774.

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CALENDAR OF

events

November 4 Daylight Savings Time ends.

November 20 All invoices due in RJO Office.

December 17 Vendor Show Registration deadline.

November 6 Election Day

November 22 Thanksgiving - RJO Office closed.

November 10 All payments must be received in RJO Office.

November 23 Holiday - RJO Office closed.

December 20 All invoices must be received in the RJO office to count towards your patronage dividend.

December 10 All payments must be received in RJO Office.

December 28 Jeweler Show Registration Deadline (last chance to receive $250 travel voucher)

November 11 Veterans Day

NEW Bill’s Jewelry Shop Bill Hammen, Jeanne Hammen Grinnell, IA

Referred by Mike Doland, Doland Jeweler, Dubuque, IA & Joe Koester, Herzog Jewelers, Fort Mitchell, KY

Buchkosky Jewelers

Paul Buchkosky Roseville, MN

Referred by Pinny Rubin, Leslie’s, Greenwich, CT

Diamonds and Gold International, Inc.

David Dumas St. Louis Park, MN

Hager Jewelry Inc.

Mark A. Cormier Hutchinson, MN

members

Pineforest Jewelry James Mills, Linda Mills Houston, TX

Referred by JB Kaiser Jeweler, Jeffery Kaiser, Grand Rapids, MN

Referred by Greg Grefin, 24 Karat Rose Co., Wayzata, MN

Jems Jewels & Gold

Smith Jewelers

Scott & Karen Kelly North Wales, PA

Kenneth Brown Jackson, AL

Kiefer Village Jewels David & Wendy Hevia Lutz, FL

Referred by Connie Thurmond, Connie & V. Cross Jewelers, Bossier City, LA

Faye’s Diamond Mine

Faye Rodgers Clinton, AR

Referred by Joe Koester, Herzog Jewelers, Fort Mitchell, KY

Sterling Jewelers of Connecticut, Inc.

Donald Unwin, Carla Unwin Wethersfield, CT

Referred by Joe Koester, Herzog Jewelers, Fort Mitchell, KY

Referred by Arthur Back, Leslie’s, Greenwich, CT Thank you to the jewelers referring new members to our group.

These jewelers will receive a $1,000 finder’s fee for their referral, payable after a new member has been in good standing for six months.

FREE Wanted: The Gem Gallery, Bozeman’s premiere custom jewelry store, is looking for an experienced goldsmith to work full-time in our very busy, state-of-the-art shop. Position requires experience with general jewelry repair, ring sizing, wax carving and casting, all levels of stone setting, engraving, laser repairs, custom jewelry building and general knowledge of the jewelry industry. CAD-cam work is a plus. Salary is based on full-time piecework using the Gellar book with PTO, health insurance and simple IRA available.

Continuing education is provided on a contractual basis. Bozeman, Montana provides a wealth of outdoor opportunities in hiking,

classifieds

fishing, hunting and world-class skiing in a beautiful mountain setting. Please email resume with three references to info@gemgallery.com with “GOLDSMITH Position” in the subject line. Be sure to include a phone number where you can be contacted.

For Sale: Jewelry Showcases. We are ready to retire and have jewelry showcases & related items for sale. Click here to see a photo gallery of items available. Call Wayne at: 301-845-2200; e-mail: Wstarkey666@aol.com

To place your FREE classified advertisement in the next issue of In the Loupe, send your items by December 1, 2012, to Christopher Green via fax: 800-597-2107; via e-mail: sheridanavenuedesign@earthlink.net; or via mail: RJO, P.O. Box 1045, Newton, IA 50208.

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