My 12 Favorite Quotes From All Those Conversations in Park City
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares some verbal highlights from Jewelers Mutual’s inaugural “Conversations” event in Park City, Utah.
![Milk Bar President Keith Levy was among the speakers at “Conversations in Park City,” Jewelers Mutual’s recent two-day conference. He spoke about how Milk Bar, which started out with a single, small shop in New York City and has expanded nationwide, differentiates itself from other bakeries. 20221026_Conversations in Park City header.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/57c163e2e7ba7a02ea7b47092fc84dec.jpg)
But, before the event gets too far behind me, I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes from the two-day event, held over the weekend of Oct. 14 at the Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.
These quotes are not presented in chronological order but, rather, in order of interest to me.
Hopefully, you will find them interesting too.
On ‘genderless’ jewelry
“Men have been wearing jewelry since ancient times, and they were comfortable with that.”
— Paola De Luca, CEO, The Futurist
“I think we are moving to a place where gender will not be a distinction in anything we make. ‘Men’s jewelry,’ I don’t think, will be a thing.”
— Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief, JCK magazine
De Luca and Gomelsky spoke on the same panel on Sunday afternoon about fashion and trends. The topic of brands moving away from labeling collections as “men’s” and “women’s” came up more than once during the discussion.
We see it all the time now among the big watch and jewelry players, though as Paola so astutely noted, gender fluidity in jewelry is not new; it’s just new to us right now.
On the metaverse
“It’s super-early. Lean in; don’t run from it.”
“Chinese consumers are the most advanced in the world. They don’t call NFTs, ‘NFTs.’ They call them digital collectibles, because that’s what it is.”
— Liz Bacelar, global executive director of innovation, Estée Lauder Companies
In my opinion, Bacelar was the best speaker of the weekend—energetic, engaging and beyond knowledgeable about Web 3.0, the next iteration of the internet that will be decentralized and powered by AI and machine learning.
Bacelar broke down the esoteric topics of the metaverse and NFTs—both expected to be key parts of Web3—in such a way that they would be understandable to anyone.
She also gave some of the best advice of the entire conference in telling retailers that, unless they plan to retire in the next six years, they need to embrace it.
On sustainability
“In 2020, everything changed. Everything changed for all of us forever.”
“I think it’s about not getting discouraged but going one step at a time toward very lofty goals.”
— Sally Morrison, director of PR for natural diamonds, De Beers Group
Morrison spoke on the last panel of the weekend, a Sunday afternoon session about sustainability.
Her first remark referenced the way we all came to realize the impact our constant consumption has on the Earth when the pandemic forced billions of people to stay home and the smoke literally cleared.
The context of her second remark had to do with De Beers’ ambitious plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Both she and fellow panelist Johanna Levy, GIA’s first vice president whose role focuses on sustainability, made the point that for smaller players in the jewelry industry, being more sustainable doesn’t have to be a massive, expensive, and intimidating undertaking.
It can start with small things, like reducing energy consumption in your stores, getting involved with a local environmental group, or not handing out plastic water bottles to customers all the time (I think the elimination of plastic water bottles is also a good note for all future conference organizers to take.)
On overlooked generations
“Millennials are not dead. For some reason, I have not heard anyone talking about millennials.”
“Boomers and Gen Xers are not dead.”
— Paola De Luca, CEO, The Futurist
True to form, De Luca was one of the most quotable speakers of the weekend.
While there was a lot of talk over the weekend about Gen Z and their social media platform of choice, TikTok, De Luca astutely pointed out that older generations—the millennials, the baby boomers and, yes, even the lonely and forgotten latchkey kids of Generation X—still have a lot of buying power and many years left ahead of them.
It reminded me of the talk De Luca gave a couple years ago in Vicenza on the “midult,” which our Senior Editor Ashley Davis covered in an article that generated a lot of buzz.
On ‘micro-influencers’
“The days of overly curated Instagram accounts, I think, are almost gone.”
“As a brand, I’d be cautious about sending out too much free stuff.”
— Jessica Quillin, co-founder and principal, It’s a Working Title
Quillin’s presentation on Saturday afternoon focused on the shift from macro-influencers—meaning major public figures like Kim Kardashian—to micro-influencers in the world of marketing, something National Jeweler columnist Lilian Raji explored for us a couple years ago.
Consumers today want authenticity. They want to feel like the influencer genuinely cares about the product they promote, and is a real person like them, with flaws and vulnerabilities.
(For those interested in pursuing a relationship with an influencer, micro or otherwise, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee provides a free “Disclosures 101” guide on its website; scroll down on this page to find it.)
On diversity and inclusion
“Diversity and inclusion is a very important aspect of marketing today.”
— Paola De Luca, CEO, The Futurist
It is also an important aspect of staffing, and organizing events like conferences and trade shows.
De Luca’s quote came after Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez, director of membership and digital content at JVC, commented during the Q&A portion of De Luca’s panel that she will immediately leave a brand’s Instagram page if she’s scrolling through and sees no diversity.
And she’s not the only one.
“That is really important and a lot of my friends are like that,” Jenkins-Pérez said.
On not diluting your brand
“We don’t have to be all things to all people. When you do that, as a brand you get into difficult territory.”
— Keith Levy, president, Milk Bar
Milk Bar is the now-huge chain of bakeries that pastry chef Christina Tosi started with one tiny shop in the East Village in New York. I remember going in there for a slice of crack pie (delicious) and cup of coffee when I lived in the East Village and drank coffee, both a number of years ago now.
Levy is the chain’s president and an operating partner at Sonoma Brands, one of the private equity firms pouring money into Milk Bar so it can expand.
A lot of people seemed impressed with Milk Bar’s growth and really enjoyed Levy’s presentation.
I have other thoughts about private equity firms in retail (and in general) but I liked Levy’s quote and I thought it summed up what a lot of other speakers were saying over the weekend.
You don’t have to try everything—TikTok, the metaverse, influencers, etc.—but you do have to define your brand and be able to answer these two questions.
What makes your jewelry brand or store unique? Why should people buy from you instead of from one of your competitors?
The Latest
![Direct-to-consumer retail brand Diamonds Direct has opened a store in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead, an area known for its upscale malls. Diamonds Direct Atlanta store](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/2e6577afc9470ba1c1de327fad397366.jpg)
It’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
![These “Double Loop” earrings feature a drop-cut amethyst sitting atop the lower hoop, totaling 1.60 carats between both earrings. The hoops are made of silver covered in “pistacchio” colored enamel, while 9-karat yellow gold holds the stones in place and connect the two hoops behind the earlobe ($1,770). Bea Bongiasca’s Double Loop Earrings](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/f338ef6b4603be3c97765f833b831ca0.jpg)
Commemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
Sponsored by Gemological Institute of America
![Untitled design.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/583fbcb2bb839782810080debef35d3c.jpg)
As the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
![Earlier this month, online giant Amazon and the Better Business Bureau filed a joint federal lawsuit against ReviewServiceUSA.com for allegedly selling fake reviews, both positive and negative. Amazon package outside door](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/27fce4225a38900d54a5536ce523a22d.jpg)
They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
![](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/99a46b30cc354962ac2e29ecd113587a.jpg)
![A shot of the Venetia diamond mine in South Africa, owned by De Beers Group. The diamond miner and marketer saw revenue drop 21 percent and rough diamond sales decline 20 percent in a “weak” market for diamonds. De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/a1f16ceaaba662e80385166060d192a7.jpg)
Lab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
A longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
![1872 x 1052 Gemolite.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9d60901b44425a53b9010301897a3bbc.jpg)
GIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
![A malachite and diamond bracelet from Pomellato’s “Pom Pom Dot” collection, launched earlier this year. Pomellato and Boucheron were bright spots for Kering in an otherwise underwhelming first half of the year. Pomellato Malachite Pom Pom Dot bracelet](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3c237b62e009742fc52487097daf3c5a.jpg)
The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
![Volunteers and Shane Co.’s corporate team from all 22 locations of the family-owned jewelry chain have begun packing backpacks with school supplies for teachers to distribute to their students this school year. Shane Co. and the Kids in Need foundation logo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/1c5abfb36ec775724f014f47bfbb47fc.jpg)
The fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
![A shot from the advertising campaign for LVMH-owned Bulgari’s “Eden the Garden of Wonders” high jewelry collection. LVMH’s jewelry and watch sales slipped in the first half of the fiscal year. Bulgari high jewelry campaign](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c24eb75ca8cea44d2e9859648f4a98ee.jpg)
Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
![Chaumet, a Parisian jeweler owned by LVMH, has designed the Olympic and Paralympic Games medals. Chaumet Paris 2024 Olympics medals](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/7831b3a738baddfc7d783e6df0fbf796.jpg)
The Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
![The acquisition of Union Life & Casualty by Jewelers Mutual will help strengthen both the pawn market and the insurance industry, said JM. Jewelers Mutual and Union Life and Casualty logos](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/195925667226ecfc51b4e1bb09607143.jpg)
Union Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
![The winner of this year’s Lonia Tate scholarship, Bradlei Smith will receive the opportunity to earn her Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA and, following graduation, an internship at Ben Bridge Jeweler in Seattle. Bradlei Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/996834935ae30a7a1195db8b9db6cb7d.jpg)
Los Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
![Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com. National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/bec7295a7f478778b1c196e6d81e7cd9.jpg)
In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
![De Beers Group mined 6.4 million carats of diamonds in the second quarter of 2024, down from 7.6 million in the same period last year. (©De Beers Group/Photo credit: Ben Perry @ Armoury Films) De Beers rough diamond display](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/80cd02b1c8384f4b2efda0bcdf6a75e1.jpg)
The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
![In honor of its summer bridal event, Long’s Jewelers is partnering with Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and jewelry brand JB Star on a vacation giveaway. Long’s Jewelers giveaway promo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4e7a90944c4e8875a4f3818dbe26b28b.jpg)
The giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
![L.A.-based flower designer, Sophia Moreno-Bunge models Guzema’s “Hidden Beauty” collection in front of a garden in Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, California. Sophia Moreno-Bunge of Isa Isa modeling Guzema’s Hidden Beauty collection](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6f3822623eb7fd2f6468f82825194cb1.jpg)
The ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
![The Entrepreneurship Grants program supports winners with financial aid to scale their businesses and increase their societal impact, said Diamonds Do Good. Pictured here are three of the 13 winners, top right is Tresia Shituula, and bottom row left to right, are Monkgogi Moshaga and Mohamed Samu. Tresia Shituula, Monkgogi Moshaga, Mohamed Samu](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/a7c9b87301b76a9446f6522747ce5b95.jpg)
The grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
![Ghazi Osta, better known as Gus, was the owner and president of Volusia Gold & Diamond, a store he and his wife, Leigh Osta, opened in 1986. He was shot and killed inside the store Friday afternoon after a brief argument with a regular customer. (Photo courtesy of Volusia Gold & Diamond Facebook page) Ghazi “Gus” Michel Osta](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c8c1fa3df746cbd364915a98dcac9d21.jpg)
Ghazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
![Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez (left) is the Responsible Jewellery Council’s new head of North American development, and Effie Marinos is its new specialist advisor for technical standards. Elyssa Jenkins-Perez and Effie Marinos](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/94332af0c7a776e7a8c36fabf76baa5f.jpg)
The organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
![Karen Rentmeesters, who joined the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in 2010, will take on the role of CEO. Karen Rentmeesters](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3256fcc71cd43a399055c61f68486269.jpg)
Rentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
![Longtime Washington, D.C., jeweler Brian Mann (right) with his wife Jessie Mann, an artist who custom-paints porcelain Limoges Boxes, at a 2016 Jewelers of America member event. Mann, the longtime co-owner of David Mann Jewelers, died June 21 at age 70. Brian and Jessie Mann](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/be4debc6e0b3198943a66ef0e2197c2c.jpg)
Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
![The 1916 Company recently opened a new Tudor boutique in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Tudor store in Denver](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9f8600ea53ed731963331ebd28a10d16.jpg)
The 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
![This necklace from Messika’s “So Move Max” set is made of yellow gold with 19.18-carats of brilliant-cut diamonds and designed with circle motifs that move within the links (price upon request). Messika’s So Move Max Necklace](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/14c78af4a4e8c6b996a81bbb5a5bc69f.jpg)
Dance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
![On Sept. 1, Julien Tornare (left), current CEO of TAG Heuer, will become CEO of Hublot. Antoine Pin, now the general manager of Bulgari’s watch business, will take over Tornare’s role as CEO of TAG Heuer. (Images courtesy of LinkedIn) Julien Tornare and Antoine Pin](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/b24627b34ece895ddd254bae22751fb8.jpg)
Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
![A rendering of a billboard from Etsy’s new campaign. The campaign is designed to highlight the platform’s creators and how their products are made. Etsy billboard rendering in NYC](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/9a94f394f326b90dc1c9da6a711c5e09.jpg)
Sellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.