Kirkland Uncorked: A Festival of Style and Taste is a grand celebration showcasing Washington’s finest wines, gourmet foods, engaging art and the best the Northwest has to offer in jazz and classical music—all in one elegant and entertaining weekend on the shores of Lake Washington.
Go to www.kirklanduncorked.com for further information. A must-visit!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Billy Joel
Billy Joel is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. Joel's music reflects influences from many different genres + these various influences have in part led to his broad success over a long period of time. I am a huge Billy Joel fan. Go to www.billyjoel.com for further information.
Consumer Mistrust In The Jewelry Industry
(via gem market news, july/august 2008, issue 4) Stuart Robertson writes:
Recently, De Beers released the results of a survey they did regarding the trust factor that consumers have with jewelers. The results are staggering. Consumers had multiple choice answers and only 5% of all respondents said they trusted jewelers a lot. More than half of all respondents said they 'actively mistrust' or 'mistrust jewelers a lot.' De Beers stated that as an industry, we must do better (note that one could speculate that De Beers released this information in an attempt to eventually lead consumers to the De Beers diamond brand as a name consumers can trust). These results might have been about diamonds, but the same would probably hold true if the questions were posed regarding color.
For more than 25 years that I have been in the jewelry business, I have been talking about the lack of disclosures in the industry. Twenty five years later, it is marginally better. On the wholesale end, it has improved due to efforts of organizations such the American Gem Trade Association. The AGTA requires members to disclose treatments of gems. However, on the retail level, other than some brave stores that have implemented full disclosure policies, it is still greatly lacking. As independent appraisers, we continue to successfully educate consumers regarding treatments with only minimal problems from the consumer learning this information. If anything, their problem is that they were not told of the treatment. How do retailers expect to gain consumer trust if they knowingly hide information relevant to the sale of the gem? Retailers are so fearful of losing out a sale, some will seem to do anything or say anything to make that sale.
How true! What's the gem and jewelry industry's trust quotient? I think the gem and jewelry sector (North America + Asia + other emerging markets) have a long way to go to prove that they can be 'trust-builders' not 'trust busters'.
Recently, De Beers released the results of a survey they did regarding the trust factor that consumers have with jewelers. The results are staggering. Consumers had multiple choice answers and only 5% of all respondents said they trusted jewelers a lot. More than half of all respondents said they 'actively mistrust' or 'mistrust jewelers a lot.' De Beers stated that as an industry, we must do better (note that one could speculate that De Beers released this information in an attempt to eventually lead consumers to the De Beers diamond brand as a name consumers can trust). These results might have been about diamonds, but the same would probably hold true if the questions were posed regarding color.
For more than 25 years that I have been in the jewelry business, I have been talking about the lack of disclosures in the industry. Twenty five years later, it is marginally better. On the wholesale end, it has improved due to efforts of organizations such the American Gem Trade Association. The AGTA requires members to disclose treatments of gems. However, on the retail level, other than some brave stores that have implemented full disclosure policies, it is still greatly lacking. As independent appraisers, we continue to successfully educate consumers regarding treatments with only minimal problems from the consumer learning this information. If anything, their problem is that they were not told of the treatment. How do retailers expect to gain consumer trust if they knowingly hide information relevant to the sale of the gem? Retailers are so fearful of losing out a sale, some will seem to do anything or say anything to make that sale.
How true! What's the gem and jewelry industry's trust quotient? I think the gem and jewelry sector (North America + Asia + other emerging markets) have a long way to go to prove that they can be 'trust-builders' not 'trust busters'.
Economic Growth + Attitude
Meinhard Miegel, director of the Bonn-based think tank Denkwerk Zukunft, analyzing a mass of survey data finds that while two thirds of Germans favor economic growth in principle, only about a sixth of them are willing to work for it. The rest value leisure, safety and early retirement over work and achievement. Given these attitudes the popular idea that a low-birthrate country like Germany can grow its way out of the rising costs associated with an aging population 'is reckless and built on sand.' Go to http://www.newsweek.com/id/145810 for further information.
Useful links:
www.iwg-bonn.de
www.monitor.com
www.eur.nl
How true!
Useful links:
www.iwg-bonn.de
www.monitor.com
www.eur.nl
How true!
Floating Windmills
I found the article on floating windmills and the technology @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/16/windpower.renewableenergy interesting and insightful + Blue H's film of the prototype turbine platform launch here + a consortium called Windsea + Statoil project called Hywind
Useful links:
www.bluehgroup.com
www.statoilhydro.com
www.statkraft.com
http://sway.no
Great ideas + innovate approaches.
Useful links:
www.bluehgroup.com
www.statoilhydro.com
www.statkraft.com
http://sway.no
Great ideas + innovate approaches.
True Or False
True of False. The Internet is the New Sweatshop.
Answer: True
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143740
I couldn't agree more.
Answer: True
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143740
I couldn't agree more.
Silver Marketing Initiative
The Silver Institute today announced that it will launch a consumer-marketing element as part of its wide range of industry programs. The 'Silver Marketing Initiative' (SMI) will combine a media and grassroots campaign to increase awareness and encourage consumer purchases of sterling silver jewelry. It will also educate the consumer and trade press on sterling silver and be a source of market information and product news on sterling silver. Go to www.silverinstitute.org for further information.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Blind Taste Test
James Surowiecki writes about telling the difference between red and white wines in a blind taste test + other viewpoints @ http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/16/pf/wine_hooey_0601/index.htm
It reminded me of diamond grading, really.
It reminded me of diamond grading, really.
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