(PRESS RELEASE) MJSA Expo has announced an expanded educational program for its 2019 show, which will run March 10-12 at the Javits Center in New York City (concurrently with JA New York).
Sponsored by MJSA, the U.S. trade alliance for professional jewelry makers, designers, and related suppliers, this year’s Expo will again present seminar sessions featuring some of the industry’s most renowned technical and business experts. They’ll cover a wide range of topics, from responsible sourcing to digital marketing, freehand drawing to CAD/CAM and resin casting. In addition, Expo will present several special events in its new Community Hall (located outside the show’s entrance), featuring panel discussions and live bench demonstrations conducted by members of the MJSA Council of Custom Jewelers.
The council, which includes some of the nation’s leading custom jewelers, will also host an open forum to explore issues related to the craft of custom design and describe some of MJSA’s custom-related initiatives.
A full seminar schedule is presented below. For more information, visit MJSAExpo.org or call 1-800-444-MJSA (6572), ext. 3025.
Sunday, March 10
- What’s New in Responsible Sourcing?
10:30 a.m. to Noon. Panel discussion with Andrea Hill, owner, Hill Management Group; Mark Hanna, CMO, Richline Group Inc.; Susan Wheeler, founder, Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference; Stewart Grice, vice president of mill/refining, Hoover & Strong; Brandee Dallow, North America consultant, Responsible Jewellery Council; Patricia Syvrud, manager, University of Delaware Minerals, Materials & Society program.
- You’ve Lost That Handcrafted Feeling: Heart and Soul in a CAD World
1 to 2:30 p.m. Presented by Scott Bradford, tech team member, Rio Grande.
- The Importance of Freehand Jewelry Design, a Hands-on Lecture
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. A hands-on lecture presented by Rémy Rotenier, a classically trained designer and principal of Rémy Design. Note: There is a $50 fee for the session.
In the Community Hall…
- Panel Discussion: Where Does Custom Design Go from Here?
9 to 10:30 a.m. Sponsored by the MJSA Council of Custom Jewelers, this discussion will explore the various models of custom businesses—from traditional retail stores to virtual shops—and the experiences of the designers who owned them: their biggest mistakes, proudest accomplishments, and greatest lessons learned.
- Open Forum: MJSA Council of Custom Jewelers
2 to 3:30 p.m. Several council members will be on hand to describe MJSA’s custom-related initiatives and to answer questions about the craft.
Monday, March 11
- Platinum Casting: Methods, Alloys, and the Role of Design
10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Presented by Teresa Fryé, president, TechForm Advanced Casting Technologies.
- Celebrating the American Jewelry Design Movement
12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Presented by Marlene Richey, art/business consultant and author of the award-winning Profiting by Design: A Jewelry Maker’s Guide to Business Success (MJSA Press).
- CAD, CAM, & Casting: Celebrating Best Practices, Debunking Myths, and Achieving Cleaner Castings through Chemistry
2 to 3:30 p.m. Presented by J. Tyler Teague, president of Proto Products and JETT Research.
- Tracking Your Digital Advertising
4 to 5:30 p.m. Presented by Matthew Perosi, principal of the Sapphire Collaborative.
In the Community Hall…
- MJSA Jeweler’s Bench Educational Series
Presented by the MJSA Custom Jewelry Council members. All sessions are free for MJSA members; nonmembers will be charged $25 each.
Noon to 1 p.m. French Settings. Presented by Lee Krombholz.
2 to 3 p.m. Bezel Settings. Presented by Joel McFadden.
4 to 5 p.m. CAD & Printing. Presented by Gary Dawson.
To learn more about MJSA Expo and to register, go to MJSAExpo.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."
