What are the biggest issues WFDB currently faces?
- Millennials are showing less interest in diamonds than their predecessors due to a lack of effective Diamond marketing.
- While Lab-Grown isn’t currently a big issue, many WFDB dealers trade in both.
- Mix stream dealers need to reinvent themselves and find their niche in the industry
- Lack of financial liquidity.
Get Diamond initiative offers a solution to many of these issues. We are attempting to bring the industry together and create leverage against many platforms that are created for profit. It created a team spirit. If it succeeds, it will create revenue that will be reinvested into the industry through marketing etc.
We all hope that normality will return soon, but do you see the recently successful Virtual Congress as being an event in the future or do you think a destination Congress personally attended by Executives of all Bourses is more productive?
While in-person value can’t be replaced, The virtual experience gave us the opportunity of having immediate group discussions. We don’t have to wait till the next congress or president meeting to discuss or resolve issues.
WFDB currently ‘services’ dealers and manufacturers. The reality is that retail jewelry stores are everyone’s lifeline. Would you be encouraged to somehow include selected heads of large and small retail establishments into a separate committee under the umbrella of the WFDB?
Give credit to the current president Yoram Dvash. He is going with the ‘think out of the box’ attitude. Associate members like Malca-Amit, Israel Bank and Chow Tai Fook (the biggest retailer in China) were recently included. The WFDB approach is now like the DCWC approach but on the World level, and this will continue to benefit us all.
DeBeers, once very involved, has withdrawn much of its effort and funding in Jewelry and Diamond advertising. Will you as VP encourage new Advertising campaigns?
Keynote Speaker was Mr. David Kellie of Only Natural Diamonds is working on a budget of $50,000,00.00 to $60,000,00.00 by devising campaigns on bringing Natural Diamond advertising to the forefront once more.
‘GET DIAMONDS’ started off on a good note with lots of excitement and participation. Things seem to be tapering off with dealers reverting back to the familiar RAPNET. What is GET’s plan for the future if there is one?
People are creatures of habit and are familiar with RAPNET. Get-Diamond is on a competitive level. We hired a CEO, Kim Pettlier who is actively working on a marketing campaign. His aim is to ensure that members understand that Get-Diamond success is your success.
