Stellar Roster of Renowned Speakers Guarantee Symposium ’24 as a ‘Must Attend’ for Retailers

New York – Symposium ’24, the two-day retailer-focused learning forum, presented by The Plumb Club in partnership with JCK, with Jewelers Mutual as the founding sponsor, has assembled a “never-before-seen” roster of world-class authorities. The event will take place in midtown Manhattan and planned for March 10 and March 11, 2024 to coincide with “Jewelry Week”.

Lori Greiner, of ABC’s “Shark Tank” will deliver the Sunday keynote address. Robert “Cujo” Teschner will deliver the Monday keynote address. After the keynote address each day, attendees will customize their daily learning by pre-registering for a mix of relevant topics across varied learning tracks. Each day’s curriculum will end with a social gathering filled with meaningful conversation and learning exchanges at a networking cocktail reception. Lunches will be provided and refreshments served throughout the day.

The renowned speakers will offer insights and valuable tips in learning seminars and case studies across the business, marketing and products and trends categories – all pertinent to the jewelry industry and focused on helping retailers. The speakers list and topics reads like a “who’s who” of the business, marketing and jewelry world.

Raphael Carty: Adjunct professor at NYU Stern Business School; Former Harvard marketing professor; Advisor – Branding, strategy marketing, GTM strategy, positioning, digital transformation, product management, applying AI, product-market fit, demand generation. Carty will conduct a 2-session case study:
- “Branding, Innovation and Growth In a Changing Industry”
Frank Cespedes: lecturer at Harvard Business School; Faculty chair – aligning strategy and sales; Author – 6 recognizable books. Cespedes will conduct a 2-session case study:
- “Business Development in a World That Never Stops Changing”
Krystle Craycraft: SVP of marketing and digital for Jewelers Mutual. Craycraft’s learning session will be:
- “Insights Unleashed: Navigating the Retail Revolution”
David Edelman: lecturer in marketing at Harvard Business School; Advisor – AI, digitization, organization and operations; Forbes – one of the most “influential CMO’s in the world”. Edelman’s learning session will be:
- “Consumer Strategy in the Age of AI”
Pia Heidenmark Cook: environmental, social, and governance, and sustainability leader; Former chief sustainability officer – IKEA; Named in top 10 female leaders in sustainability. Heidenmark Cook’s learning session will be:
- “Sustainability: A Golden Opportunity – Learnings from European Retailers”
Melanie Grant and Tiffany Stevens: Grant: Executive director at Responsible Jewelry Council. Stevens: CEO & general counsel for Jewelers Vigilance Committee. Grant and Stevens’ learning seminar will be:
- “What Responsibility Means Right Now”
Aliza Licht: Founder – Leave Your Mark; Brand marketer, social media and personal branding expert; Author – “Leave Your Mark; Land Your Dream Job”, “Kill it in Your Career. Rock Social Media” and “On Brand; Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception”. Licht’s learning seminar will be:
- “No One is Thinking About Your Brand. Here’s How to Get Them To.
Zach Lipsky and Michael Schechter moderated by Jen Cullen Williams: Lipsky is president of BOSS Logics, Schechter is VP OMNI channel strategy. Lipsky and Schechter will deliver a conversation moderated by Jen Cullen Williams of JCW Communications:
- “Between Two Nerds: Setting Jewelers Up for Digital Success”
Kelly McDonald: Marketing and advertising specialist; Expert – consumer trend, generational differences, customer experience; Founder McDonald Marketing – twice named by Advertising Age as “top agency”. McDonald’s learning session will be:
- “Deliver a Better Experience, For Every Kind of Customer”
Ivette Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos: VP code of origin & trade services North America for De Beers Group. Nersesyan-Stephanopoulos’ learning session will be:
- “Addressing Important Contextual Shifts in Selling Diamonds”
Benny Oeyen: Executive head, marketing development for Anglo American. Oeyen’s learning session will be:
- “Unlocking Platinum’s Competitive Edge for Your Business”
Kathy Lee and Severine Ferrari moderated by Michelle Orman: Orman is President, Last Word Communications. Orman will host a panel consisting of Kathy Lee, EIC of The Zoe Report and Severine Ferrari, EIC of Engagement 101.
- “Trendsetters Talk: The Importance of Ever-Evolving Metal Trends in Fine Jewelry”
Robert “Cujo” Teschner: Best-selling author of “Debrief to Win” and “Building Resilience”; Award-winning fighter pilot and colonel; Former US Air Force expert of post-mission debriefing. Teschner will deliver both the second-day keynote address and a learning session:
- “Debrief to Win”
- “Debrief to Win Workshop”
Paco Underhill: Environmental psychologist; Founder – Envirosell; NY Times bestselling author – “Why We Buy” and “Call of the Mall”. Underhill will deliver 2 learning seminars:
- “Shopping in a PostPan World: A Hard Look at the Impact of COVID on Consumer Culture”
- “Adornment and Evolution of the Jewelry Customer: A Summary of Findings from Prototype Jewelry Stores”

Full descriptions of each seminar are available on the Symposium ’24 page of The Plumb Club website: https://plumbclub.com/events/symposium-24/

The majority of invitations to this extraordinary opportunity have been sent by The Plumb Club and seats are already becoming limited for the event, which will extend New York’s week of jewelry festivities, and is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan. Retailers wishing to put in a request for consideration should email info@plumbclub.com

*Speakers and topics may be subject to change.

About The Plumb Club: The Plumb Club proudly celebrates over 40 years of educating and innovating within the jewelry category, and creating productive connections between jewelry retailers and our world-class manufacturing members. Founded in 1983 by a small group of distinguished manufacturers as a social club, The Plumb Club has evolved into one of the jewelry industry’s leading supplier organizations. Today, The Plumb Club is a unique coalition of leading, responsible and important suppliers spanning all facets of the jewelry, diamond and watch industries. The purpose of the organization is to connect its members and their customers and help shape the future of the jewelry industry. The Plumb Club’s membership accounts for a significant percentage of the domestic fine jewelry market. For more information, visit https://plumbclub.com

About JCK: Considered the most important jewelry exhibition in the world, the award-winning JCK show provides the global jewelry trade community the optimal stage for business growth by uniting the industry to buy, sell, network, learn and discover. A one-stop destination with the most diverse selection of professionals and products, JCK is jewelry’s most important gathering. Having been a launchpad for jewelry trends, products, and brands for three decades, JCK offers unrivaled access to quality buyers and sellers with 18,000 attendees and over 1,900 exhibitors annually. This is where the jewelry industry and its media partners unite to do business, make vital connections, and get inspired during multiple days of product discovery and exceptional experiences. Visit https://lasvegas.jckonline.com. lasvegas.jckonline.com

About Jewelers Mutual Group: Jewelers Mutual was founded in 1913 by a group of Wisconsin jewelers to meet their unique insurance needs. Later, consumers began putting their trust in Jewelers Mutual to protect their jewelry and the special memories each piece holds. Today, Jewelers Mutual continues to support and move the industry forward by listening to jewelers and consumers and offering products and services to meet their evolving needs. Beyond insurance, Jewelers Mutual’s powerful suite of innovative solutions and digital technology offerings help jewelers strengthen and grow their businesses, mitigate risk, and bring them closer to their customers. The Group insurers’ strong financial position is reflected in their 36 consecutive “A+ Superior” ratings from AM Best Company, as of November 2022. Policyholders of the Group insurers are members of Jewelers Mutual Holding Company. Jewelers Mutual is headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, with other Group offices in Dallas, Texas and Miami, Florida. To learn more, visit https://www.jewelersmutual.com.

Greiner to Kick-Off a “Never-Before-Seen” Roster of Renowned Authorities

New York – Symposium ’24, the two-day retailer-focused learning forum, presented by The Plumb Club and JCK, with Jewelers Mutual^® as the founding sponsor, is pleased to announce that Lori Greiner will deliver the keynote address on Sunday, March 10^th, kicking off the event. Ms. Greiner will be followed by a robust list of renowned authorities providing insightful seminars and case studies across the categories of business, marketing, product, and trends. Details on the full roster of speakers will follow shortly.

Lori Greiner started with one idea and turned it into a multi-million-dollar international brand. She is well known as a self-made inventor and entrepreneur who created and marketed over 1,000 products and holds 120 US and international patents and has a 90% success rate for new items launched. She is recognized as one of the most prolific inventors of retail products of our time and a master brand builder. A leading Shark on ABC’s 4x Emmy Award-winning entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, she invests in companies and helps turn people’s dreams into reality. Several of her investments are the highest success stories on Shark Tank to date, having 10 of the top 20 investments. She’s well known for her impeccable negotiating skills and uncanny ability to know, identify, and launch emerging brands.

At the heart of Lori’s own success is a combination of talent, hard work, and perseverance. She is a strong role model for women of all ages and was honored with the Sherry Lansing ‘Woman of the Year’ Award and, by the Paley Center, as an Important Woman in Television. Lori’s international bestseller Invent It, Sell It, Bank It! is a step-by-step guide on how to turn an idea into a million-dollar reality.

The majority of invitations to the limited seating opportunity have been sent by The Plumb Club and seats are already becoming limited for the event, which will extend New York’s week of jewelry festivities, and is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan.

After the keynote address, attendees will customize their daily learning by pre-registering for a mix of relevant topics across varied learning tracks. Each day’s curriculum will end with a social gathering filled with meaningful conversation and learning exchanges at a networking cocktail reception. Lunches will be provided and refreshments served throughout the day.

Retailers wishing to put in a request for consideration should email info@plumbclub.com

The Plumb Club, JCK, and Jewelers Mutual to Introduce Exclusive 2-Day Retail Learning Forum in 2024

Symposium ’24 To Coincide with NY Jewelry Week Events

New York – The Plumb Club is pleased to partner with JCK, and welcome Jewelers Mutual^® as the founding sponsor, to introduce an exclusive two-day retailer-focused learning forum titled “Symposium ‘24”. The inaugural leadership event will take place on March 10^th and 11^th, 2024, extending New York’s week of jewelry festivities, and be conveniently located in midtown Manhattan within close proximity to other industry meetings and celebrations. Industry leaders, top retail executives and key buyers will be personally invited by The Plumb Club to this limited seating educational opportunity.

A Symposium Content Committee has been formed to identify opportunities and issues relevant to the jewelry industry and develop idea generating and solution-based topics. Leading world-class authorities will be brought in to provide seminars, talks and round-table discussions across a variety of jewelry-relevant learning tracks including general business, the newest insights in marketing, as well as current trends impacting both merchandising and product mix.

Roger Forman, president of The Plumb Club, as well as its member, Marathon Company, says, “An informed and knowledgeable industry is beneficial for everyone involved in it, from retail C-suite executives to the key personnel making purchasing decisions. Helping them stay current with the most up-to-date insights and upcoming trends across a variety of categories is key. Symposium ‘24 further connects with two key pillars of The Plumb Club, which are education and innovation in the jewelry space.”

Attendees will be treated to a sumptuous daily breakfast, followed by a keynote address from a renowned speaker. Attendees will then customize their daily learning by pre-registering for a mix of relevant topics across the varied learning tracks. The day’s curriculum will end with a social gathering filled with meaningful conversation and learning exchanges at a networking cocktail reception. Lunches will be provided and refreshments served throughout the day.

“JCK is pleased to join our longtime partner The Plumb Club, to address the needs of their retail partners, providing retailers an opportunity to learn and gain industry education and insights while already in New York City for fashion week and other jewelry industry events,’ said Sarin Bachmann, group vice president RX jewelry group. Our mission at JCK is to continue to foster business growth within the jewelry industry and we are excited to see the Symposium deliver added value to this select audience.”

Krystle Craycraft, Jewelers Mutual’s senior vice president of marketing and digital adds, “We are thrilled to be the founding sponsor of Symposium ’24, an exceptional educational opportunity for retail buyers. This event perfectly aligns with our commitment to support and empower those in the jewelry industry. We look forward to fostering meaningful connections, driving innovation and providing invaluable insights to industry leaders and key buyers attending this signature event.”