Two Jewelry Groups Launch Education Program for New Retailers

The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) and Jewelers of America (JA) have debuted the Emerging Jewelers Accelerator Program (EJAP), a series of interactive workshops that aim to help new retail jewelry entrepreneurs establish their business.

Five retail-jewelry entrepreneurs and “subject matter experts” will lead the workshops during the eight-month program. After they finish the course, students will continue to have access to the initiative through periodic check-in calls, quarterly workshops and invitations to industry events.

“BIJC is working to ensure that our members have access to opportunities and education that can help their business be ‘built to last,’ and this partnership with JA enables participants in the EJAP access to subject matter experts that will help them do just that,” says BIJC president Annie Doresca.

The curriculum includes business strategy, human resources and operations, product development and jewelry forensics, accounting, marketing and sales, legal, insurance and security, manufacturing, and ethical sourcing. BIJC and JA are currently accepting applications for subject matter experts.

Image: A jewelry store display. (Shutterstock)