Press Releases

Portland Jewelry Symposium Set for October

Published

8 years ago

August 16, 2017

INSTORE Staff

It will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

(Press Release) PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Jewelry Symposium will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with the theme “Future Think: Innovate, Create, & Thrive.” The annual event, being held on Oct. 1 and 2 in Portland, will kick off with a Sunday night Keynote Dinner and Address by jewelry industry veteran Peter Smith. Smith, CEO of Vibhor and a columnist for National Jeweler, The Jewelry Book and the World Diamond Magazine will share thoughts from his 2016 article in National Jeweler, “What Will Become of Retail Jewelry Stores?”

“Given the rapid evolution we are experiencing in both retail business models and manufacturing technologies, it is very timely
for the Symposium to take a deep dive into the innovative business models of tomorrow,” said founder Teresa Frye. “Beginning with our Keynote Address and continuing across all presentations and bench demonstrations, we endeavor to create a sense of the visionary at this year’s event.”

Rounding out the Future Think program will be talks by digital manufacturing expert Kevin Abernathy of BisVentures; Social
media guru Peggy Jo Donahue and her tech-savvy panel featuring custom jewelers Calla Gold, Wendy Brandes and lisa
Krikawa; retail business expert Becka Johnson Kibby of Edge Retail, responsible sourcing authority; Monica Stephenson of
idazzle and Anza Gems; and specialist in XRF analytics technology Jennifer Caban of Olympus.

Other presentations feature goldsmith and inventor Phil Poirier of Bonny Doon Engineering, designer Annie Koenig of Annie K
& Motorhead Jewelry, gemstone carver Sherris Cottier Shank of Gemscapes and bench expert Kristi Broussard of Stuller. A
full line-up of the sessions and schedule can be found at www.portlandjewelrysymposium.com.

Sponsors for the event include TechForm Advanced Casting Technology, Stuller, Platinum Guild, Solidscape, Rio Grande, MJSA,
Johnson Matthey, Otto Frei, Instore Magazine, Metalsmith Magazine, United Precious Metals Refining, Envisiontec, Hoover
and Strong, Cad Blu, Red Sky Plating, A3DM Technologies and the Santa Fe Symposium.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.