(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – The Diamond Empowerment Fund, through its Diamonds Do Good nomenclature, launched a profile of Okavango Diamond Company’s Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (ODC-YEP) on DiamondsDoGood.com.
The program is designed to expose youth in Botswana to the diamond value chain and provide formal entrepreneurship training to assist them in exploring and developing their entrepreneurial ambitions.
“Entrepreneurship has been identified as part of a number of solutions to address unemployment in Botswana,” said ODC Managing Director Marcus Ter Haar, who is a board member of the Diamond Empowerment Fund. “It is important for us as stakeholders in the Industry to do all in our power to ensure the success of the country in which we do business and the people that live there.”
The story will be targeted to millennials through the social media based Diamonds Do Good Initiative.
Research shows that 75 percent of consumers say they are more likely to purchase a diamond after reading positive stories about how the industry gives back. “Putting forward a positive narrative surrounding diamonds is essential,” said Anna Martin, D.E.F president and GIA senior vice president. “Sharing these stories with our customers is not only good for business, it is a responsibility for the entire industry.”
More examples of how the industry gives back will be highlighted at this year’s Diamonds Do Good Gala in Las Vegas on May 31 with honorees Bruce Cleaver, CEO De Beers; and Canada’s Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Cleaver is being recognized for De Beers’ work in accelerating women’s professional advancement and GNWT is being recognized for their responsible diamond mining practices which ensures a sustainable future for the indigenous tribes and wildlife that surround the mining operations.
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For more information and to purchase tickets/sponsorships for the Diamonds Do Good Awards gala, visit diamondsdogoodawards.org.
Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless
When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time.
"We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them.
Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."
