North and South Carolina jewelers are on the move! Next year, their annual meeting and conference will be held at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, April 22-24. Citing its warm southern hospitality, amazing array of restaurants and charming atmosphere, Charleston was named once again the No. 1 Top City in the U.S. and Canada in the Travel + Leisure 2015 World’s Best Awards. This marks the third consecutive year Charleston made top North American rankings. Both the North Carolina and South Carolina Jewelers Associations concur with the magazine, citing these attributes in moving the conference from Myrtle Beach, SC.
Simply Diamonds is providing a $100 room sponsorship for the first 30 North Carolina or South Carolina stores to register for the conference at Charleston Harbor Resort for Friday and Saturday nights. Rooms are $189 per night. (Only one sponsorship per store/$100 sponsorship in registration packet upon arrival.) Registration information will be in the newsletters for the associations and posted on both association websites.
Enjoy the Saturday morning buffet breakfast and hear attorney Rodney Klein of Klein & Associates present Estate Planning for Store Owners. Southern Jewelry News columnist (The Retailer’s Perspective) and store owner Chuck Koehler will provide store profitability tips. The annual golf tournament will be played at Patriot Point Links, beautifully located on the harbor just next door to the hotel. Not a golfer? Take the water taxi from the hotel to the historic district or the trolley to the beach at Sullivan’s Island. Dolphin watch from the hotel’s marina docks or tour Boone Hall Plantation. Paddle board or kayak just down the road at Shem Creek, but be back in time for the evening reception. Following the reception, take in one of Charleston’s many award winning restaurants.
Sunday morning following the buffet breakfast, GIA presents Identifying Diamond Treatments – an interactive, guided discussion led by a GIA instructor. This seminar imparts information on the nature and treatment of diamonds including laser drilled, fracture filled, HPHT, irradiation and multiple treatment processes. Additionally, GIA presents Identifying Gemstone Treatments. This presentation introduces the various treatment processes currently used in the gemstone market, as well as treatment identification of commercially important gemstones used in jewelry. There is a Sunday Only registration option for store employees.
For more information or to sponsor the event, e-mail the Associations at ncja@nc.rr.com or suzi@scjewelers.org. You may also call the office at 919-789-7979. Visit online at www.scjewelers.org and www.ncjewelers.org.
