MJSA New “conFab” to Help Designers Profit

MJSA Launches New “conFab” 

to Help Designers Profit

ATTLEBORO FALLS, MA—MJSA, the association dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design, will this fall present the first MJSA conFab, a one-day event focused on “profit lessons” for jewelry makers and designers. Sponsored by the MJSA Education Foundation, it will take place Oct. 14 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

The MJSA conFab will feature a range of sessions covering such key areas as strategy and planning, digital marketing, inventory control, and pricing. In addition, attendees will be able to access special password-protected pages on the MJSA website (mjsa.org), where they can find additional information. New articles, videos, and other resources will continue to be posted to the pages following the event, creating a digital extension of conFab.

“Our goal is to help jewelry makers and designers make a better living doing what they love,” says MJSA president/CEO David W. Cochran. “The event will offer best business practices in a way that’s memorable, rewarding, and even fun. We’ll present pricing strategies by staging a game show—our own version of ‘The Price Is Right’—and invite attendees to submit their own jewelry creations for the contestants to review. They can also submit their websites for critique during the ‘Websites That Work for You’ session, or post their favorite ‘words of wisdom’ on our Board of Best Advice. It truly will be an event to which everyone can contribute.”

The scheduled conFab presenters include:

Andrea Hill, owner of StrategyWerx, a consulting firm focused on helping small business owners succeed and prosper.

Arthur Skuratowicz, co-founder of the Jewelry Training Center (JTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he serves as director of education.

Gary Dawson, owner of Gary Dawson Designs, an internet-only business that was recently named among the “Best of the Best” by Instore magazine.

Lee Krombholz, owner of Cincinnati-based Krombholz Jewelers and Just Like You Designs, which specializes in personalized jewelry.

Eugene Brill, online marketing manager with industry supplier Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico; he has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in internet marketing communications (search engine optimization, search engine marketing, social media, etc.).

Tina Snyder, editor in chief of MJSA Journal and MJSA Journal Online.

The event’s registration fee of $125 includes unlimited access to the online conFab pages. To learn more or to register, go to mjsa.org.