(WARWICK, R.I.) – The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year with a “Commemorative Edition Red Book” in March, as well as a condensed guide to credit decision-making called The Dos and Don’ts of Credit, available this spring. Both publications will be provided to all JBT members. In addition, every member will receive a free month’s subscription to JBT’s New Claims & Bankruptcy Report in this anniversary year.
“We are thrilled to reach this extraordinary milestone serving the jewelry industry,” noted JBT Board Chairman Harvey O’Conor. “The Commemorative Edition Red Book features our many advancements over the years in providing critical information and assistance to members with credit, collections and marketing needs, along with it’s primary purpose of delivering all JBT business listings in printed form.”
He added: “In addition, many of our members are smaller businesses without a dedicated credit manager. ‘The Dos and Don’ts of Credit’ guide to credit-decision making will help them ask the right questions and seek out the right information before they ship product. We want to give these members access to the same credit-decision considerations that larger companies utilize because of their additional staff.”
These initiatives follow a series of significant technological advancements, culminating in a vastly upgraded member website that is easier to navigate and for the first time provides online access to JBT’s database of over 30,000 business listings and their principals through the JBT Advanced Search feature. In addition to a completely upgraded credit report format and revamped credit rating system where all business listings receive a rating, technology upgrades also allow members to place and monitor collections claims online.
According to JBT President Dione Kenyon: “Today, not only do all JBT members have instant online access to credit reports, they can also sign up for JBT Credit Watch, which automatically notifies them of key changes to their customers’ credit information. Instead of wading through data to find credit changes which could be red flags, members receive this information simply and timely with e-mail alerts from JBT Credit Watch, leaving them more time to concentrate on other business matters, especially in these challenging times.
“In fact, through numerous financial crises,” Kenyon continues, “JBT has remained steadfast for members; our organization was actually born of a credit panic and wide financial failures in 1884. While we have endured for 125 years, we remain more essential than ever in providing the critical credit information that the jewelry industry has come to rely on especially in demanding business climates. Our independence as an organization insures neutrality in the information we provide, while our commitment to honesty and integrity underscores our particular relevance today.”
The Jewelers Board of Trade is the only credit-reporting agency focused exclusively on the U.S. jewelry industry. Founded in 1884 as a member-based organization, JBT now serves 3,000 domestic and international members. For more information about JBT or to become a member, call (401) 467-0055 or visit www.jewelersboard.com.
