Jewelry Business Guru by Cindy Edelstein

Robert Lee Morris awarded for his lifetime achievement in silver jewelry designs

 Silver Marketing International (SMI) has honored Robert Lee Morris with the prestigious “Designer of Distinction” award. Celebrating Morris’ 40 years of unsurpassed artistry in silver and his 11 years as one of QVC’s premier jewelry designers, the award was presented at QVC in West Chester, Pa. on Saturday, August 29^th.

 

The ceremony, which was in conjunction with Morris’ QVC appearance in the Sterling Designer Gallery broadcast was led by Michael C. Barlerin, director of the SMI.

 

“There could not be a more appropriate recipient of SMI’s inaugural ‘Designer of Distinction’ award than Robert,” Barlerin said. “His work over the years reflects the forefront of jewelry as wearable art.  While Robert has earned multiple prestigious honors and awards in the fashion, accessory and jewelry industries, his passion for silver and his pure, sensual and iconic work in this magical metal remain his hallmark.”

QVC Sterling Designer Preview Event - inperson AND on TV

Guess I never thought about it since I'm too far away but I think it's cool to actually go to QVC to meet the designers and watch the tapings. This Friday is a BIG day for them ... the Sterling Designer Event with so many key designers and the meet and greet is on Friday Aug. 28th at 7:00 to 8:30 PM ET. The shows start with Robert Lee Morris at midnight  --  here's a link to the whole schedule.

I hear Robert will be given a very special award by the Silver Institute during his show. I'll be cheering from my couch!

The roster of designers includes some of our friends and favorites like the team at Anthony Nak, Elizabeth Rand, Elizabeth Showers, Barbara Bixby, Carolyn Pollack, Seidengang and so many more.

Guess I'll be watching QVC all weekend!

Go to the QVC website if you're interested in attending their Big event. Wish I lived closer......

 

From Robert's QVC Blog:

Most of my air time on SILVER DESIGNER DAY, (this Saturday, Aug. 29) will be devoted to the theme of hearts, crosses and iconic symbols of POSITIVITY. I will be on from midnight to 2am then, prime time Sat, morning (EST) from 9-11am. I'm thrilled to be a part of a very unique day on QVC whereby many new designers will be introduced including my CFDA peer, Dean Harris, a real talent!

Below I have listed an important page to visit: it announces that I will be receiving a major honor, the Designer of Distinction award from Silver Marketing International. You will be able to watch a video clip of me receiving the award during my on air appearances.

globalDESIGN 09 - great jewelry designers + great retailers = beauty for all

Yurman, Good, Munsteiner to Teach Master Jewelry Classes @ Revere Academy -- Scholarship Contest Offered

The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts has announced the creation of a new all-expenses-paid scholarship for one recipient to attend a master class of their choice at the school's upcoming International Masters Symposium.

The April event will mark the Revere Academy's 30th anniversary and features an impressive celebrity lineup, including classes to be taught by David Yurman, Michael Good, Bernd Munsteiner and Kent Raible, among many other notable names.

The scholarship, dubbed the Mort Abelson Scholarship in honor of the founder of the JA Show's New Designer Gallery, will provide the recipient with tuition and fees, lodging and air travel expenses from anywhere in the United States to San Francisco.

A contest will be held to select one scholarship winner. The contest is open to anyone in the United States and Canada, and applications will be accepted until Jan. 2, 2009, through an online application posted on Callforentry.org. Designers are asked to submit five digital images of their jewelry, answer two essay questions and provide a $25 entry fee. A jury composed of Mort Abelson, Alan Revere and Cindy Edelstein of the Jewelers Resource Bureau will select the winner based on work that exemplifies original, innovative and high-quality jewelry design

For more information, visit the Revere Academy's Web site, RevereAcademy.com/Guide/Scholarship/Mort-Ableson-Scholarship/.

See you in Philly at globalDESIGN - the showcase of exceptional jewelers

globalDESIGN, our international showcase of exceptional jewelers, returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center this week, Friday February 15th through Sunday February 17th from 9am to 7pm.

We're just steps away from Buyer's Market of American Craft in room 202 of the Convention Center. And have been for two years. Before then we were in the attached Marriott hotel. Our bigger room in the Convention Center is much better -- more room for schmoozing and socializing and sitting down to view the collections.

Our show is very unique; it looks more like a trunk show than a trade show. We offer the fine jewelry buyers an intimate setting to peruse the collections of 20 exceptional jewelry artisans. We serve breakfast and snacks and wine in the evenings. It's a very civilized way to work!

Joining us this year are:

Aaron Henry  ~  Alex Sepkus   ~  Alishan   ~  Daphna Simon   ~  Deborrah Daher   ~   Didi Suydam   ~  Emily Armenta   ~  Gellner  ~  Gurhan   ~  Jane Bohan   ~  Janis Kerman   ~  Jerry Spaulding  ~  Mauri Pioppo   ~  Monica Rich Kosann    ~  Pamela Froman   ~ Sevan Bicakci   ~  Stephanie Albertson   ~  Sugarman ~ Frantz    ~  Vicente Agor ~ ViewPoint

All fine jewelry retailers are invited to attend -- and press is more than welcome, too! Designers are welcome to stop by, too, just to say hello and to meet our team. We might even blog onsite -- you never know who'll you meet there!

 

Gurhan Celebrates 10 Years in Business

What a lovely way to celebrate a 10th anniversary... with a party designed to thank and honor those who helped you reach that milestone -- like your first customer, and your IT consultant, and your lawyer and the editor who gave you your first magazine feature. That's just what Fiona Tilley and Gurhan Orhan -- owners of GURHAN -- did this evening.

It was a swanky cocktail party for 100+ where nearly everyone was the guest of honor -- or at least made to feel that way by the gracious couple who have created one of the most successful designer businesses of our time.

Due to their  accumulated genius -- in both business and design --- they've grown from a two-person entrepreneurship  in NYC to a multinational corporation with nearly 100 people  going full steam ahead. One thing that hasn't changed though is Gurhan's prolific designs (and their gracious charm!).

Part of their success in the marketplace is due to the fact that no matter who you are or what you're looking for there's something for you in the line. Big, small; simple or jangly; colorful or plain and everything inbetween. What retailer can resist taking the line in their store when there's something for nearly every customer? And the work is backed up with great  craftsmanship, service, respect and personalized attention to every detail. [TIP: having as much width and depth to your line as possible maximizes your sales potential -- give everyone something to buy!] Those are points every designer can learn from the Gurhan team.

We had a great time at the party reminiscing and feelin' the love. It's great to see two very talented people reach milestones in their business celebrating with full gusto and even more grace.

I hope you all get to feel that way sometime in your business -- whatever size and scope you aim to be.

Henry Dunay Jewelry Book Signing -- Celebrating 50 years of Design

Famed Designer Henry Dunay had a wonderful party this evening to celebrate the debut of his first coffee table book "Henry Dunay A Precious Life."

The book is beautiful, filled with dozens and dozens of photos of Henry's masterpieces from the past 50 years. Marion Fasel and Penny Proddow wrote the text and the photos were taken over the years by Dallas jewelry photographer  extraordinaire John Parrish.

It's an inspiring read for any designer.
 

CFDA Adds 30 New Members - 3 are Jewelers

Founded in 1962, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is a not-for-profit organization of more than 300 top U.S.-based fashion and accessory designers. New members are chosen based on a vote by the board of directors upon review of their application.

This year's new members are:

Michael Ball for Rock & Republic
Victoria Bartlett for VPL
Monica Botkier for Botkier
Tory Burch
Richard Chai
Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig for Marchesa
Wenlan Chia for Twinkle
Keanan Duffty for Slinky Vagabond
Pina Ferlisi for Generra
Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
Henry Jacobson
Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim
Adam Lippes for Adampluseve
Andreas Melbostad for Phi
Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte
David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone
James Perse
Mary Ping
Laura Poretsky for Abaeté
Jessie Randall for Loeffler Randall
Lela Rose
Rachel Roy
Paul Sinclaire for Tevrow & Chase
Michelle Smith for Milly by Michelle Smith
Mimi So
Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist
Jean Yu

Current CFDA jewelry designer members:
Simon Alcantara, Anthony Nak, Alexis Bittar, Erica Courtney, Henry Dunay, Stephen Dweck, John Hardy, Lisa Jenks, Steven Lagos, Elizabeth Locke, Paul Morelli, Robert Lee Morris, Judith Ripka, Jordan Schlanger, Mish Tworkowski (Mish New York), Katrin Zimmermann (Exovo)

John Hardy Sells His Stake

John Hardy, founder of the namesake Bali jewelry brand, has sold his stake in the firm to company president Damien Dernoncourt and creative director Guy Bedarida. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, reported WWD. More from WWD:

Hardy will become the brand's ambassador and continue to help provide creative vision. His wife, Cynthia, will be a merchandising consultant. Terri Eagle, who joined the company from competitor David Yurman in 2005, will retain the title of president and chief executive officer of John Hardy USA. Dernoncourt, 35, has been president since 2003, and Bedarida, 43, has been in his role since 1999. An unnamed private equity firm backed the deal and Lincoln International acted as a financial adviser. It is unclear whether Hardy owned the majority in the firm or if he had partners. [Cindy understands there was a partner in Hong Kong]

Hardy's sales in the U.S.reportedly reached $150 million last year. We are a lifestyle brand and our strength is really in jewelry," Dernoncourt said. "We are about handmade luxury product and luxury with a soul. We believe that it's a brand with a real spirit, a real soul and a great future. The brand attributes are very strong." Bedarida said, "We're really following the heritage that John has given us. John is sort of a spiritual father to us. It's an incredible, exciting new era." The company has no plans to roll out stores in the U.S., with the exception of a Manhattan flagship slated to open in the next 18 months.