EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
MajorsJul 07, 2014
Alex and Ani named a ‘brand to watch’
Fast-growing jewelry company Alex and Ani has been included in Brand Innovators’ “Made in America: Top 10 Brands to Watch,” a list that spotlights businesses that have established themselves in a demanding consumer marketplace.
New York--Fast-growing jewelry company Alex and Ani has been included in Brand Innovators’ “Made in America: Top 10 Brands to Watch,” a list that spotlights businesses that have established themselves in a demanding consumer marketplace.
The companies included in the list, published for the second time this year, were selected based on criteria including consumer adoption, media buzz and awareness, the ability to create brand equity and overall innovation in brand marketing through products made in the United States.
“Alex and Ani is pioneering its own definition of corporate consciousness, creating high-quality, thoughtfully manufactured jewelry through sustainable initiatives and mindful actions,” New York-based Brand Innovators said. “All pieces are handcrafted in America, where Alex and Ani retail stores are purposefully located on main streets to encourage growth in local economies.”
CEO and Creative Director Carolyn Rafaelian founded Alex and Ani, which is headquartered in Cranston, R.I., in 2003.
Well known for its popular bangles and bracelets, Alex and Ani places emphasis on its eco-friendly, made-in-America manufacturing, as well as corporate consciousness and charity. The company has linked itself to large and patriotic collaborations, including a partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee earlier this year where the sale of its Olympic-themed bangles benefitted the funding of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls.
Alex and Ani also has been recognized for its increasing success and strong presence in the jewelry industry and American marketplace in general. The brand was identified as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies in Inc. Magazine’s 2013 500|5000 list, after its revenue skyrocketed from $2.2 million in 2009 to $80 million in 2012.
RELATED CONTENT: Armenta, Alex and Ani among fastest-growing brands
Up-to-date marketing technology also has been utilized by the brand, as they introduced Swirl Networks’ iBeacon platform in more than 30 of its stores in early 2014 to deliver highly targeted, store-specific mobile marketing to consumers who physically are in an Alex and Ani store, when consumers are most engaged and primed to spend.
RELATED CONTENT: Alex & Ani using store-specific mobile marketing
Last year, Brand Innovations’ list of “Made in America: 25 Brands to Watch,” included Detroit-based watch brand Shinola, which also produces bicycles and leather goods. The companies comprising the 2013 list were held to the same criteria as this year’s businesses to watch.
Brand Innovators, a 3-year-old company with offices in New York and Los Angeles, holds summits
that provide brand marketing and media professionals with best practices, case studies and proof points, demonstrating how “best of breed” brands leverage electronic media. A list of events can be found here.
More on Majors
The Latest
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
