The IJL Advisory Board met at Gordon Ramsey’s townhouse, the York & Albany, for a festive toast to the success of an amazing 60th Anniversary Edition of IJL 2015.
The perfect place for a Yuletide get-together, Advisory Board Members Stella Layton, The Birmingham Assay Office; Julia Clarke, Hester Clarke County Jewellers; Barrie Dobson, Lawrence Blunt; Suzanna Hammond,Hammond PR; Eran Shem-Tov, Stubbs & Co; Sarah Jordan, Sarah Jordan Design; Stuart Laing, Houlden Group/ Laings of Glasgow; Jan Springer, Global Marketing Services Ltd; Dax Humberstone, Antwerp Diamonds and Jos Skeates, EC One mingled with the IJL team over bubbly and canapes before sitting down to a festive lunch from the Head Chef Will Stanyer.
With the thank you’s out of the way, and the toasts all done, we all got down to the most important business of catching up! With gripping tales of keeping a jewellery thief talking at the counter until the police arrive, the big Black Friday debate – to join the madness this year or not and what was ultimately best for business, a global search for the purest coloured ruby for a very particular client (we’re not naming names!) and of course plans for the coming busiest weeks of the year – lunch stretched into early evening!
Christmas is the most important season of the year– for Retailers and Manufacturers alike, so its always good to hear how everyone if getting prepared – and also to say how delighted we are that the Advisory Board members take time out of their hectic schedules to be with us at such a busy time of year!!!
The IJL Advisory Board is an invaluable part of the IJL Team. Donating their time, they provide industry insight, input into new initiatives, drive new ideas and act as collective sounding board representing all sides of the jewellery industry as IJL continues to innovate, respond to the ever changing demands of our industry and match the trading needs of both buyers and suppliers year by year, with our passion for delivering IJL’s strategy as the premier jewellery industry event.
We’re looking forward to working with all our members again next year – and can’t wait to see all the new ideas come to fruition over the 4 – 6 September 2016 at Olympia. We’re also hoping for the effects of a great Christmas lunch to hopefully wear off soon too!
Happy Christmas from all at IJL.
