High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Deadline for MJSA Vision Awards approaching
The MJSA’s 2104 Vision Awards, which recognizes outstanding talent in jewelry design, is open for entries now through April 17.
Attleboro Falls, Mass.--The MJSA’s 2104 Vision Awards, which recognizes outstanding talent in jewelry design, is open for entries now through April 17.
The awards include a number of general categories as well as sponsored categories to honor designers working within specific techniques, known as Distinction awards.
The categories for the Vision Awards are as follows.
--Professional Design Excellence (1-3 years), honors designs that exhibit exceptional creativity, craftsmanship and marketability by jewelers who have been in business for 1 to 3 years
--Professional Design Excellence (4-plus years), honors designs that exhibit exceptional creativity, craftsmanship and marketability by jewelers who have been in business for four years or more
--Custom Design Distinction, honors designs that met a client’s request and the challenges encountered during the design process and how they were overcome
--Laser Distinction, honors entries in which the design relied upon the use of a laser and any technical challenges that were overcome to take the piece from concept to completion
--CAD/CAM Distinction, a new category for 2014, honors designs that were created with the use of CAD/CAM technologies and the challenges that were overcome to take the piece from concept to completion
--Digital Marketing Distinction, also new for 2014, honors a business that has created an outstanding digital marketing program (website, social media, blogging, etc.)
--Future of the Industry Award, recognizes the work of students in jewelry-related programs who exhibit exceptional design talent and creativity
A panel of jewelry designers, manufacturers and editors will judge designs based on originality, presentation quality, effective use of materials, wearability and the design’s perceived manufacturing and marketing potential.
The winning entries will be showcased at MJSA Expo New York, scheduled for March 2015 at the Hilton New York, and also will be mentioned in the MJSA Journal and on the organization’s website, in ads in InStore and Metalsmith magazines, and in MJSA press releases distributed throughout the industry.
In addition, winners will receive cash prizes, gift certificates for tools and supplies, book packages, and, for students, scholarships funded by the MJSA Education Foundation.
Guidelines, eligibility and submission information can be found here.
Additional information on the 2014 MJSA Vision Awards can be found on the MJSA website.
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