Recorded WebinarsMar 31, 2023
Watch: How Is the Industry Doing When It Comes to Diversity?Policies & IssuesJun 07, 2023
Experts Discuss Disability Inclusion at WJA’s Las Vegas Breakfast
Members gathered Friday morning at JCK to hear from Diversability founder Tiffany Yu and Molly Kettle of Gamut Management.
WJA members stand with GAMUT management’s Molly Kettle (second from left) and entrepreneur and disability advocate Tiffany Yu (fifth from left) following their panel talk at WJA’s second “Generating Community Impact Breakfast” at JCK.
Las Vegas—This year at JCK, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) hosted its second “Generating Community Impact Breakfast” and the topic was disability inclusion in the jewelry and watch industries.
Members gathered in the San Polo Ballroom Friday morning to hear from entrepreneur and disability rights advocate Tiffany Yu and GAMUT management Chief Operating Officer Molly Kettle on the types of mindset shifts needed, from designing adaptive jewelry to marketing jewelry and timepieces for people with disabilities.
Yu is the founder of Diversability, a social enterprise to advocate for equality for people with disabilities.
In 2020, she was the co-chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit.
Started in 2019, GAMUT management is a consulting, talent management and accreditation company helping businesses to become “disability confident” in how they engage with, create adaptive products for, and represent people with disabilities. Yu is represented by the company as well.
To begin the breakfast, Yu presented and then the two joined a panel led by WJA Executive Director Jennifer Markas.
Related stories will be right here …
Members gathered in the San Polo Ballroom Friday morning to hear from entrepreneur and disability rights advocate Tiffany Yu and GAMUT management Chief Operating Officer Molly Kettle on the types of mindset shifts needed, from designing adaptive jewelry to marketing jewelry and timepieces for people with disabilities.
Yu is the founder of Diversability, a social enterprise to advocate for equality for people with disabilities.
In 2020, she was the co-chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit.
Started in 2019, GAMUT management is a consulting, talent management and accreditation company helping businesses to become “disability confident” in how they engage with, create adaptive products for, and represent people with disabilities. Yu is represented by the company as well.
To begin the breakfast, Yu presented and then the two joined a panel led by WJA Executive Director Jennifer Markas.
In her opening presentation, Yu recalled how, at 9 years old, she was in a car accident that left her paralyzed in one arm.
“You can either age into disability or it can happen very suddenly,” Yu said. “A lot of people will say that disability is one of these intersections and one of these communities that you can join at any time.”
Yu said disability is not just about the health condition; it’s the interaction with a person’s physical, external environment that creates a disability experience.
She cited the 2022 “Disability Impacts All of Us” report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates that one in four American adults are living with a disability.
“We, as disabled people, actually control about $21 billion of discretionary income, which is more than the Black ($3 billion) and Latinx markets ($16 billion) combined,” Yu said.
“We’ve got some money and we want to spend it at your companies.”
Yu showed the audience a video of how she puts on a necklace, demonstrating how clasps can be difficult for people with certain disabilities.
She said adaptive design—things like curb cuts, electric toothbrushes, bendy straws and speech-to-text—while good for business, also are helpful for people, like moms with strollers, who don’t have a disability.
During the panel discussion, Kettle echoed that sentiment, stating that while there does need to be a shift in product design and marketing strategy, there’s also “an innovation aspect,” that everyone can benefit from an easier clasp.
“If we’re all lucky enough to age, we will probably join the disability community at some stage in our life,” Kettle said.
“If you want true change and you want to make more money, hire disabled people into your company.” — Tiffany Yu, Diversability
Also, people with different disabilities have different ways of engaging with products.
As an example, Yu shared the story of a company that created a tactile watch for someone with impaired sight.
“It has little bumps all on it where someone who is blind is able to wear the watch and be able to tell what the hour it is,” Yu said. “The interesting thing about that watch is, I still can’t put it on.
“What is inclusive and adaptive for one person might not be for another. And that highlights the diversity within disability. We all want to wear watches and we all want to know what time it is, but we all have different ways of engaging with that product.”
Adaptive products also should include cohesive marketing with disability representation.
“How inviting you are being? What kinds of products do you have to offer?” Kettle said. “There’s a whole new customer base you could reach by providing products those customers may need as well as targeting them in a different way.”
Yu prompted the audience to think, “If Tiffany is your archetype of customer, how would she engage with the product?”
For true inclusivity, intentionality is necessary at every level, including internally.
“I spend most of my time talking about disability at work because to me, that’s the place I think will create the biggest type of systemic change,” Yu said. “So, if you want true change and you want to make more money, hire disabled people into your company.”
Kettle reminded attendees that disability inclusion is a journey and a process, but what matters is the intentional effort and the willingness to listen to feedback.
“It’s thinking about it in your day-to-day, in your plans, in your strategies and what it looks like,” she said. “Wherever you are is OK.”
The WJA breakfast was sponsored by the Natural Diamond Council, Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Guild+Facet, V&A Group, SHR Jewelry Group and the JCK Industry Fund.
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi 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.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
MajorsJul 18, 2024
New Etsy Campaign Prioritizes Creators Amid BacklashSellers and shoppers have spoken out against a rise in mass-produced merchandise on the platform meant to highlight handmade goods.
MajorsJul 18, 2024
Swarovski Names Ariana Grande as Its New Brand AmbassadorThe celebrity will star in Swarovski’s holiday campaign.
