News Bureau

The benefits of acting on CSR focussed!

Last week RJC returned to Arizona to attend and host an event at JCK Tucson 2019. RJC's Edward Johnson, Director of Business Development and Brandee Dallow, RJC's North American representative hosted a fireside chat in the JCK Tucson ballroom with guest speakers to talk about the benefits of acting on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the jewellery industry.

The guest speakers represented the many facets of the jewellery supply chain and included Lisa Bridge from Ben Bridge, a major US independent retailer; Sara Graham, a prominent American jewellery designer; Mark Hanna from Richline Group, a large scale jewellery manufacturer; Laurie Watt from Mayer and Watt, a US coloured stone dealer and Emmanuel Piat from Maison Piat, an international coloured stone cutter and dealer.

Approximately 40 people were in attendance including several representatives from RJC members including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), American Gem Society (AGS) and Jewelers of America (JA). RJC supporter, JCK and new Association Member, The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) were also in attendance. Also joining the conversation were representatives from Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), the Mercury Free Mining project and a range of interested dealers, manufacturers and retailers.

Brandee opened the discussion by asking what the speakers defined as 'being responsible'. They all agreed that focusing on people, their staff, customers and other stakeholders were crucial to their continued success.

Lisa Bridge from Ben Bridge highlighted that it enabled her company to improve staff retention and gave the example of making sure all of the company’s responsibilities over fire safety were taken seriously and were legally compliant.

She also stressed the importance of customer service, citing a guiding quote from her great uncle, Herb Bridge, the founder of the 5th generation family business, “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on earth.”

Edward Johnson, RJC’s Business Development Director ended the session by thanking the speakers and Brandee and gave thanks to JCK for their continued support in promoting responsible business practices with their ongoing support for RJC.

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