Events & AwardsOct 04, 2023
BIJC to Honor Simone I. Smith at Upcoming ‘Rock the Jewels’Events & AwardsOct 10, 2023
JA, BIJC Seeking Retail Jewelry Entrepreneurs for Business Program
The Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program will guide five business owners through an eight-month educational curriculum.
New York—Jewelers of America and the Black in Jewelry Coalition are seeking five emerging business owners to participate in their business incubator.
The organizations announced the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program (EJAP) last month.
EJAP will guide five business owners who have been in business between two and five years through an eight-month educational program designed to help them succeed in the jewelry industry.
“Running a successful business in the jewelry industry isn’t for the faint of heart,” said BIJC President Annie Doresca.
“We created the EJAP with Jewelers of America to provide tangible business assistance and access to ensure participants can navigate past challenges with greater ease.”
The program consists of a series of interactive workshops, each hosted by a different subject matter expert.
Workshop topics include business strategy; human resources and operations; product development and jewelry forensics; accounting; marketing and sales; legal concerns and strategy; insurance and security; and ethical sourcing and manufacturing.
Related stories will be right here …
The organizations announced the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program (EJAP) last month.
EJAP will guide five business owners who have been in business between two and five years through an eight-month educational program designed to help them succeed in the jewelry industry.
“Running a successful business in the jewelry industry isn’t for the faint of heart,” said BIJC President Annie Doresca.
“We created the EJAP with Jewelers of America to provide tangible business assistance and access to ensure participants can navigate past challenges with greater ease.”
The program consists of a series of interactive workshops, each hosted by a different subject matter expert.
Workshop topics include business strategy; human resources and operations; product development and jewelry forensics; accounting; marketing and sales; legal concerns and strategy; insurance and security; and ethical sourcing and manufacturing.
When the program is complete, the five participants will give a presentation no longer than seven minutes showcasing how they will utilize what they have learned in their businesses.
One participant will receive a $5,000 grant after the presentation, while the other four will receive $1,250.
Upon completion, the EJAP will continue to support jewelry entrepreneurs through periodic check-in calls, quarterly workshops, and invitations to industry events.
To apply for the EJAP, participants should own a jewelry business that sells directly to consumers, have a business EIN, reside in the United States, be 18 years old or older, and be able to attend all workshops and give a final presentation.
Applications are online and should be completed by Oct. 31.
Industry experts interested in applying to be subject matter experts can also apply online.
“Education access is paramount to success,” noted Jewelers of America President and CEO David Bonaparte.
“Through the EJAP, our goal is to provide high-level content at no-cost and to help talented business owners have longevity in the jewelry industry.”
EJAP is supported by the JCK Industry Fund.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
IndependentsSep 29, 2026
Christy Bromberg, Longtime Gift Buyer for Underwood Jewelers, Dies at 68She is remembered for her joie de vivre, upbeat personality, genuine interest in other people, and love of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
De Beers London Drops Water-Inspired High Jewelry Collection“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
Jessica McCormack Turns to Classic Motif for New CollectionThe “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.
Events & AwardsSep 28, 2026
Guy Borenstein, Troy Underwood Among the Professionals Honored at AGS Conclave 2026The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.
FinancialsSep 28, 2026
Instappraise, Jewelers Mutual Look to Simplify Jewelry InsuranceThrough a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.
WatchesSep 25, 2026
Smaller Rolex Watches Showing Strength on Secondary Market, Data ShowsFive of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.
