Ben Bridge, Cartier, LVMH Join Effort to Combat Racism in Retail
The companies were among the retailers that signed nonprofit Open to All’s charter.
The companies signed the organization’s “Mitigate Racial Bias in Retail” charter, a commitment to reduce racially biased experiences and unfair treatment in stores and create a more welcoming environment for shoppers.
The fine jewelry sellers that are newcomers to the initiative are Ben Bridge Jeweler, Cartier, and LVMH.
“For 110 years, we have believed in being a part of the fabric of each community in which we operate,” said Lisa Bridge, president and CEO of Ben Bridge Jeweler.
“To us, that means embracing all members of the community and Open to All helps us both communicate that and to continue to learn and grow.”
Other new signees include CBL Properties, Glossier, The Body Shop, Yelp, and URBN, the parent company of Anthropologie, Free People, Nuuly, and Urban Outfitters.
The charter was launched in May by Open to All and LVMH-owned Sephora after the beauty company commissioned its “Racial Bias in Retail” study, which explored how shoppers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are discriminated against in stores.
In 2019, Sephora closed its stores for an hour to host an “inclusivity workshop” after R&B star SZA, who is a Black woman, said an employee in a California location told a security guard to follow her to make sure she wasn’t stealing.
The company issued an apology and has since taken steps to combat racial profiling and discrimination in its stores.
Two in five U.S. shoppers surveyed for the report said they have personally experienced unfair treatment based on their race or skin tone. BIPOC shoppers were three times more likely than white shoppers to feel judged based on their appearance.
The charter began with 28 retailers on board and now has the support of more than 200 national and state public education organizations and elected officials as well as thousands of businesses and nonprofit service providers.
Tiffany & Co., Movado Group, Michele, and Watch Station International joined the pledge previously.
A full list of members is available on the organization’s website.
“This cross-collaboration is key in working to address and prevent systemic racism in U.S. retail environments and the culture at-large,” said George-Axelle Broussillon Matschinga, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Sephora.
Since the charter’s founding, the nonprofit said it has been contacted by more retailers who are aware of how pervasive discrimination is in retail and want to help address the problem and create welcoming spaces for their customers.
“LVMH is proud to sign the Mitigate Racial Bias in Retail Charter alongside many of our maisons, including the co-initiator Sephora, to drive lasting change in the retail industry,” said Anish Melwani, chairman and CEO of LVMH North America.
“LVMH creates products that maintain a standard of excellence by bringing together diverse talent, skills, and experiences to serve all of our customers. Signing the charter is an actionable step in our ongoing commitment to eradicating racism from the retail experience and ensuring that all of our customers feel valued and respected in our stores.”
Open to All Director Calla Rongerude expressed her gratitude to the retail partners, noting that a key factor in eliminating racism in retail is preventing exclusionary treatment before shoppers even get to the store.
“Open to All is grateful to our corporate and nonprofit partners, who are demonstrating a commitment to training their workforce, diversifying marketing and product assortment, and taking other tangible steps that create a culture of belonging for BIPOC shoppers and employees,” she said.
Since June, the nonprofit has held monthly meetings to track the impact of its initiatives.
The group also works with loss prevention departments to address harassment, racial profiling, and bias in their practices.
Each month, experts and guest speakers join from Sephora, Diversity Best Practices, and Mentor Spaces to share their expertise with the participating retailers.
Charter members gathered in San Francisco in October to collaborate and set goals for the upcoming year.
The charter has three key focus areas.
First, there is a goal of increasing diversity across marketing, products, branding, and the workforce to prevent discriminatory treatment.
Secondly, retailers should educate employees about the experiences of shoppers of color so employees can better interpret their interactions with BIPOC customers.
Lastly, the charter asks retailers to implement a feedback mechanism to improve customer service and help create a more inclusive shopping experience.
Prior to the October meeting, members were asked to complete a survey.
The survey found that 44 percent of respondents signed the charter with the hopes of creating a collective impact at the industry level while 28 percent wanted to change the in-store shopping experience.
Twenty-two percent said their primary motivation was learning and sharing best practices.
As for training, 59 percent of respondents said they had used or planned to use Open to All’s Reduce Racial Bias in Retail training.
The two-hour training, released in June, is a mix of live instruction and self-taught learning to educate employees on racial bias in retail settings, providing practical strategies to decrease those incidents and promote inclusivity.
Non-retail companies, institutions, NGOs, and nonprofits can also take the Open to All pledge.
For more information or to join, visit the Open to All website.
The Latest
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.