NRF to Host Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Showcase
The event will be held on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as part of its upcoming trade show.

The 112th annual “Retail’s Big Show” will be held in New York City at the recently expanded Javits Center from Jan.16-18.
The show was virtual last year due to COVID-19 but will be in-person once again in 2022.
The NRF DE&I Stage and Showcase will be held on Jan. 17, which is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
The showcase will feature products from more than 40 Black and Latinx/Hispanic brands.
The program will also include sessions on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and leadership, which will be open to retailers and press only.
A session titled “The Compelling Why: Listening, Learning and Co-Creation in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” will dive into how diversity is an asset to both companies and employees.
It will be hosted by Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, Kiera Fernandez, senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Target, and James Rhee, founder of Red Helicopter.
In “The Achievable How—Implementing DE&I Learnings Inside Your Business” session, retail executives will share how they’ve put DE&I lessons to use in their businesses.
Speakers include Jonathan Mayes, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Albertsons Companies, Christiane Pendarvis, co-president and chief merchandising and design officer at Savage x Fenty, Kimberly J. Smith, founder and CEO of Marjani Beauty, and Colleen Taylor, president of merchant services, U.S., at American Express.
The event will also include roundtable discussions and lunch.
For more information about the event or to register for the show, visit the NRF’s website.
The Latest

From tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.

The “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”


The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.

The initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.

The new tool can assign the appropriate associate based on the client or appointment type and automate personalized text message follow-ups.

Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.

Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.

The retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.

The new members’ skills span communications, business development, advocacy, and industry leadership.

The jeweler’s 2026 Valentine’s Day campaign, “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837,” includes a short firm starring actress Adria Arjona.

The new features include interactive flashcards and scenario-based roleplay with AI tools.

Family-owned jewelry and watch retailer Deutsch & Deutsch has stores in El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.

The Italian luxury company purchased the nearly 200-year-old Swiss watch brand from Richemont.

Micro-set with hundreds of diamonds, these snowflake earrings recreate “winter’s most elegant silhouette,” and are our Piece of the Week.

Ella Blum was appointed to the newly created role.
























