(PRESS RELEASE) LEOMINSTER, MA — Chris Ploof, owner and designer of Chris Ploof Designs, announced that he has been hand-selected as an IJO (Independent Jewelers Organization) vendor. Conveniently coinciding with the holiday selling season, Chris’s work will be introduced to the IJO membership throughout the fourth quarter. Further, Chris will be given priority placement in the buying room at the upcoming February 2026 IJO event in Colorado Springs. Throughout the year, as an IJO member, Chris will receive marketing support from the IJO marketing team via outlets like their website, newsletters, and Supplier Spotlight publication, as well as access to over 850 members across America, all of whom have been vetted by the IJO team.
“I am honored to be selected as the newest IJO vendor,” says Ploof. “This is our first time joining a buying group, and we look forward to the many new connections we will make. Our hand-forged work in what I call ‘modern metals’ such as Damascus steel, mokume gane, meteorite, and more, deserves a wider audience. Our customers love the gender-neutral design and the excellence of our production standards. Of course, it helps that we do it all with sustainable business practices in our solar-powered Massachusetts studio. We hope to now be able to offer such options to more people across the nation.”
IJO is an organization which only accepts jewelers with the highest ethical standards and superior professional integrity. IJO provides marketing and educational opportunities to its members worldwide.
“We are absolutely delighted that Chris and his team have joined IJO, creating a new home for his distinctive, hand-forged patterned metals,” says Sam Larson, Director of Vendor Partnerships and Merchandise Strategy for IJO. “Strong partnerships drive everything we do, and welcoming Chris into our community reinforces our mission to grow stronger together through education, innovation, and an unwavering dedication to elevating the integrity of the jewelry industry.”
For more information on Chris Ploof and his work, visit chrisploof.com. To learn more about Chris and see some of his forging work, click here for a YouTube series of vertical shorts.
