April 16, 2021

By Jewelers Mutual Group With the rise of cyber-attacks, you can never be too careful when protecting your digital information. As technology continues to evolve and become more sophisticated, criminals are developing tactics to target your assets without ever stepping foot inside your business. Ransomware is a type of virus that attaches itself to a harmless looking email or website, often from a legitimate-looking company. Once opened or activated, the virus infects the computer’s files with strong encryption that requires a “secret code” to have the encryption removed. Then, a ransom note appears on your screen, typically demanding a certain

For over 150 years, Furrer Jacot has created high quality, handmade jewelry. There are many things that set them apart, besides being an independently-owned company with 100% Swiss-made products. The production process is one of them. “All of our products are produced in-house in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, starting with an extruded blank; there is no stamping or casting of any kind,” says Zoe Grillo, client relations manager at Furrer Jacot. “The precious metals we use have zero porosity which makes them stronger, harder, and more elastic.” Furrer Jacot does not do mass production or stock; all their rings are made to

We continue our month-long celebration of diamonds with a video by Glenn Markman, CG, president and CEO of Facets of Fire Diamonds. Glenn takes us on a pictorial journey through the amazing history and skillful art of diamond cutting. Vendors: Are you interested in submitting a video on birthstones? This is your opportunity to share your expertise on birthstones with your fellow members through short, one to three-minute videos discussing the characteristics and qualities of gemstones. Your video will be featured in our semi-monthly Spectra Update and in AGS PRO. To participate, click the button below to fill out our Content Submission form

Ready for some marketing magic? Want to exceed sales expectations? What can you do to help your business succeed in this new era of consumer buying? Do you want to win some prizes? You’ll get the answers to these questions and more at Confluence! Joey Coleman, an award-winning international speaker and customer-experience design expert, has this special message about his Confluence session, “What’s Next? How to Navigate Customer and Employee Interactions in a Pandemic (and Post-Pandemic) Era.” During each session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the speaker questions! How? The sessions are pre-recorded so that the speaker can be

Education. Community. Inspiration. When you attend Conclave, you receive more than just invaluable education taught by industry specialists and recognized innovators. You also become a part of something bigger. The energy, collaboration, and motivation that comes from the AGS community is an experience you can only get at Conclave. Now through May 15, 2021, the AGS Young Titleholders (YTs) are offering scholarships to attend Conclave 2021, September 12-14, in Dallas, TX. If you have never been to Conclave or haven’t attended for a few years, this is a terrific opportunity!  Elevate your career. Forge lifelong friendships. Apply for an AGS

Have you visited AGS PRO lately? Your one-stop learning portal is filled with educational content. Here are three noteworthy pieces to read: Advertising Principles for the Jewelry Industry Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) Click here to view the article This abstract outlines some important principles of advertising while adhering to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines. It is excerpted from JVC’s “Guide to Selling Jewelry in the 21st Century: Legal Compliance for Designers, Independent Jewelers, and Online Sellers” and is a recommended Essential Guide for AGS members. It can be purchased from www.jvclegal.org. Article is listed under: Business Management Clienteling for Increased