MJSA ConFab Slated for Nov. 3 at FIT
Conference focuses on teaching jewelry makers and designers business
skills ATTLEBORO FALLS, MA-MJSA, the association dedicated to
professional excellence in jewelry making and design, will present
its second annual MJSA ConFab conference Nov. 3 at the Fashion
Institute of Technology in New York City.
Offering a full-day of “profit lessons” for jewelry makers and
designers, MJSA ConFab features some of the industry’s top designers,
marketers, contractors, and consultants, offering insights that get
to the heart of what it takes to run a successful business. Among the
topics and presenters for the 2013 conference:
In “Creating Your Own Niche,” Andrea Hill-current president of the
StrategyWerx consulting firm and former CEO of Rio Grande-will
demonstrate how to identify market opportunities and develop a unique
brand that appeals to those prospective customers. The session will
feature special guest appearances by renowned designers Lisa Jenks,
Alex Woo, and Jessica Kagan Cushman, all of whom will discuss their
own experiences with niche marketing.
Andrea Hill will also present “Sales Skills for the
Selling-Challenged,” in which attendees will take part in a series of
games that demonstrate how to describe a product’s selling points
powerfully, and match those selling points to prospects’ needs.
Ted Doudak of Riva Precision Manufacturing and Daniel Grandi of
RaceCar Jewelry Co. will face off in “Can You Make This?
Subcontracting Made Simple.” Moderated by Peggy Jo Donahue, director
of public affairs at MJSA, the two experienced jewelry makers will
answer questions on everything from choosing a subcontractor to
understanding technical challenges and communicating expectations
clearly.
Designer Lisa Jenks, famed for her sterling creations, and Scott and
Minter Richter, whose custom design firm specializes in titanium
rings, will talk about “Maintaining Margins When Creating Designs in
Low-Cost Metals.” MJSA Journal Editor in Chief Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
will moderate the discussion.
Cindy Edelstein, “The Jewelry Biz Guru,” will host “Creating a
Digital Marketing Plan.” Guests Eugene Brill, director of marketing
for the Jewelry.com division at the Richline Group; Matthew A
Perosi, founder of the Jeweler Website Advisory Group (jWAG); and
Peggy Jo Donahue, who manages MJSA’s social networking, will discuss
how to integrate all aspects of a business’s online
activities-website, e-newsletters, blog, social media efforts,
etc.-into a cohesive presence that sends a powerful message to
current and prospective customers.
The day will end with the ConFab Connect, in which attendees will
have the chance to speak with the presenters and sponsors
face-to-face, and network with each other.
The $125 registration fee also includes full access to the ConFab
Online Extras, a collection of articles, videos and other resources
exclusive to ConFab attendees.
MJSA ConFab is sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation (Prime
Sponsor), Richline Group (Benefactor), Jewelers Mutual Insurance
Company, Riva Precision Manufacturing, Rio Grande, and Cindy
Edelstein, the Jewelry Biz Guru.
For more or to register, go to
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80n0