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David Bonaparte is the President & CEO of the nearly 10,000 member Jewelers of America.
He has also served as Senior Vice President of Reed Exhibitions and has managed all aspects of a multi-million dollar trade show portfolio including four major jewelry trade events.
Clickable Show Notes
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Question #1 – You know, it’s fascinating to hear someone’s journey through life from point A to B. I mean, how do you go from playing varsity baseball at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania to over 21 years at Reed Exhibitions in Norwalk Connecticut, where you served as Senior Vice President, to become the President of Jewelers of America? Timestamp: [4:44]
Question #2 – JA membership benefits can have a strong impact on the bottom line profit of an independent jewelry store, and those on the supplier side as well. Can you share some of these real-world benefits and why they’re so valuable? Timestamp: [6:58]
Question #3 – Everyday JA promotes its members to consumers in some innovative and exciting ways. We could easily do an entire show on just this one benefit that Jewelers of America provides. From the JA Tiara program to the Member Spotlight program and so much more. Can you share with us the benefits you provide through your Consumer Marketing Resources? Timestamp: [9:24]
Question #4 – Let’s switch gears for a moment and talk about JA’s relationship with the JA New York show. For over 100 years, JA New York has brought the jewelry industry together on the east coast for three focused days of buying, trend spotting, treasure-hunting, and business-building interaction. It seems around the world, big jewelry trade shows are downsizing, smaller ones are opening, and vendors and retailers are dropping out or showing on their own. What does the future hold for this annual event and jewelry trade shows in general? Timestamp: [13:26]
Question #5 – In June 2017, Jewelers of America established a new collaborative relationship with the Diamond Council of America (DCA). How has this collaboration strengthened the overall Jewelers of America brand and what are the advantages for your nearly 10,000 members? Timestamp: [15:37]
Question #6 – I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the venerable jewelry media icon, National Jeweler as being under the JA umbrella. The publications Editor-In-Chief, Michelle Graff is a gifted, professional journalist, who with her dedicated team, do an amazing job of keeping us informed. How important is this digital platform in today’s crowded jewelry media space, and are there thoughts of adding a print, podcast, or video component to National Jeweler in the future? Timestamp: [18:27]
Question #7 – Jewelers of America keeps the interests of the jewelry industry front-and-center in the nation’s capital. Not many people know that Jewelers of America’s Political Action Committee, JAPAC, is the only PAC that supports the fine jewelry industry in Washington, D.C. Could you share more about why JA created this political action committee and the success their lobbying efforts have had? Timestamp: [21:08]
Question #8 – So much seems to be in flux right now with the jewelry trade. From responsible jewelry metal & gem sourcing to the continued rise of lab-created diamonds, to the evolution of media platforms to connect jewelers to clients. What do you see as the biggest challenge that independent jewelers and jewelry vendors will face in the near future? Timestamp: [26:13]
Question #9 – Jewelers of America has announced that the 17th annual GEM Awards will be taking place on Friday, January 11th. Tell us about the GEM Awards and how it fuels JA’s mission of increasing consumer awareness for fine jewelry and watches? Timestamp: [29:18]
What You Should Know About David Bonaparte
Jewelers of America – President since 2012. Since 1906, Jewelers of America has been ensuring consumer trust in the jewelry industry and its products through advocacy in public, government and industry affairs and development of high ethical, social and environmental standards among the jewelry industry. As the leading non-profit jewelry association in the United States, Jewelers of America advocates professionalism and adherence to high ethical, social, and environmental standards through our Code of Professional Practices.
Emerald Exposition – Emerald is a leading operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States. They currently operate more than 55 trade shows, as well as numerous other face-to-face events. In 2017, Emerald’s events connected over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupied more than 6.9 million NSF of exhibition space.
Contact Information
- LindedIn: David Bonaparte
- Website: Jewelers of America
- Email: members@jewelers.org
Our “Inside the Jewelry Trade” Radio Show Episodes
The host of “Inside the Jewelry Trade” Radio Show – Jewelry Business Strategist – President of Four Grainer LLC. Author of the business books “A Reason To Chant,” and “A Reason to Chant – Jewelry Trade Edition.” Rod lives in Atlanta with his wife and two almost-human cats.