(PRESS RELEASE) Gembridge has appointed Larry Schaffer, a former Swarovski executive and longstanding senior sales representative in the U.S. gemstone industry, as Regional Sales Director, Americas, tasked with building partnerships and growing the digital gemstone and jewelry marketplace in the region.
Larry, who previously worked for Swarovski’s gemstone division for 15 years, will also be looking to establish ties between gemstone suppliers in the Americas and the burgeoning online platforms selling to East Asian consumers.
“I am looking to develop a strategy in North America to build collaborations which will enable suppliers across the Americas to sell directly to the Asian online luxury consumer, a market that’s growing at 20% per annum,” he said.
Larry will be driving Gembridge’s digital gemstone sales in the Americas to the ZBird platform in China, a gemstone e-retailer based in Shanghai, and will reach out to other fast-growing platforms in the East Asian region including Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country.
“We will be signing on more gem dealing trade partners and uploading their inventory onto the marketplace to sell as loose stones and bespoke jewelry.”
Larry will be Gembridge’s lead representative at JCK Las Vegas this month, where he will develop partnerships, share growth plans and raise the visibility of Gembridge in the rapidly growing digital transformation of the trade.
“I will be sharing our focus with new partners, building awareness of what Gembridge is all about, and what we are looking to achieve,” he said.
Nick Marrett, Gembridge CEO, said, “The appointment of Larry to this key role for Gembridge will strengthen our position in the vital markets of the Americas. It comes as Gembridge enables inventory held on one side of the world to be sold directly to online luxury consumers on the other, unlocking new markets, sales and growth for our members. Purchased stock is delivered to doorsteps almost anywhere by a service that is easy to use, secure and insured, with shipping via official customs channels and guaranteed payment.”
Tony Brooke, Gembridge chairman, said, “We are delighted to have on board an executive with such experience, depth of understanding of the market, and vision for the future direction of digital trading in gemstones and jewelry.”
Gembridge offers digital marketplaces for both the colored gemstones trading community, and for consumers, known as Friends of Gembridge.
Register here.
Today Gembridge welcomes members from 60 countries and is represented by 16 Ambassadors, with Hubs in Shanghai, New York, Los Angeles, Chattanooga, Minas Gerais, Bogota, London, Geneva, Munich, Nairobi, Beirut, Jaipur, Colombo, Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney.
Gembridge is a commercial member of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation and is a member of the ICA, International Colored Gemstone Association. Gembridge is regulated by Singapore’s Ministry of Law for purposes of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, in cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force, which is leading regulatory reforms across 200 countries.