Jewelry Navigator™ Podcast

Inside Jewelry Trade Shows & Marketing With Liz Kantner, Curator & Designer Consultant for the Premier Show

Inside Jewelry Trade Shows & Marketing With Liz Kantner, Curator & Designer Consultant for the Premier Show
Liz Kantner is the designer consultant to rising, independent designers for Emerald Exposition’s jewelry trade shows, JA New York, and is heading up their debut Premier Show in Las Vegas, May 30 through June 3rd, 2019.
A few of the designers attending the show have been guests on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, like Samantha Jackson of Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry, and Kate Hubley of K8Jewelry.
Other designers featured are Emily Kuvin Jewelry, and Debra Halperin of May Came Home Jewelry, as well as industry insiders, Roger and Rachel Dery of Gem Legacy, and Roger Dery Gems.
Liz had extensive experience with digital marketing before she started her journey in the jewelry industry.
She moved to Denver from Philadelphia, and answered a Craig’s List ad for a social media and marketing position with Todd Reed Jewelry.
She advanced to marketing manager for Todd Reed. She compared her time at Todd Reed to a master’s program in luxury marketing and the jewelry industry.There, she covered all aspects of marketing, while connecting them with sales strategy.
With a large staff of experienced jewelers, she familiarized with jewelry design and fabrication processes.
Since her time at Todd Reed, Liz has moved back to the East Coast.
She found her current roll with Emerald Expositions after the unfortunate and untimely passing of Cindy Edelstein, the former curator and mentor to designers featured in the jewelry shows represented by Emerald Expositions.
Liz does her best to follow in the steps of Cindy by nurturing new and rising jewelry designers featured in her shows.
Her drive to serve the designers  in the shows she curates is inspiring.
Besides sharing her experience as a new shop owner in Asheville, NC, we discuss how designers can use the shift in retail trends to their advantage through trade shows and marketing.
You can find Liz on Instagram@liz_kantner
Premier@premier.shows
Watch their feeds for exciting coverage of the exclusive Premier Show in Las Vegas!
Email her at elizabeth.kantner@gmail.com for questions regarding future trade shows and her consulting services.
The sponsor for this podcast is the Spring Fling Jewelry & Accessory Guide, featuring gifts perfect for the special events and occasions in spring, like father’s day, graduations, anniversaries, weddings, and birth gifts.
I feature some of my favorite designers, many of whom have been guests on the podcast, like CRASH Jewelry, Mary van der Aa, Emily Kuvin Jewelry, Hania Kuzbari, Sarah Michikos, Nayla Shami,and MINTON.
You can find the guide under the Special Features tab in the main menu on my website or click here
https://jewelrynavigator.com/spring-fling-jewelry-accessory-gift-guide/
Thanks so much for joining me today - I know you have a choice in what you listen to, and if you like jewelry, you’re in for a treat - so sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode!
One more thing!
Do you have jewelry questions, or are you an emerging jewelry designer who needs a boost?
Future Jewelry Navigator Podcasts are in the works, and scheduling is open for a short time.
Reach out to me with questions and queries at brenna@jewelrynavigator.com.

William Travis Kukovich - Innovative Jeweler and Designer

Jewelry designer, William Travis Kukovich, of William Travis Jewelry is my guest on the Podcast today.
 
He’s earned over twenty industry awards for his designs using colored gemstones, unique design elements, and metal combinations.
 
His jewelry is unique on its own, and is difficult to pin down with a description, and appeals to both men and women alike.
 
From his studio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Travis creates custom designs for clients looking to define their own style.
 
He also operates outside the ordinary retail experience by offering in-studio, behind the scenes tours every Saturday to visitors and curious customers.
 
This podcast has been a work in progress between his busy schedule since last December, but I’m excited to be sharing his unique story here on Jewelry Navigator.
 
While we face life challenges, we all hope we can use them to better our lives, and Travis has done just that.
 
Between a traumatic childhood brain injury that’s impaired his ability to read and write. and surviving breast cancer, Travis has learned to convert challenges into an innate gift to read people and interpret their ideas.
 
You can hear more about Travis on a podcast/recorded radio show -
 
WUNC Radio The State of Things Story,
 
“It’s Art That You Wear: Meet Jewelry Designer William Travis Kukovich” by Dana Terry & hosted by Frank Stasio, November 5. 2018
 
I’ll be sure to include a direct link to that show - it’s fascinating, and it covers more about Travis’ story outside of jewelry.

Paul Bierker - Renaissance Jeweler & Founder of Geek Jewelry

Paul Bierker - Renaissance Jeweler & Founder of Geek Jewelry-featured image 
Paul Bierker is the founder of Paul Michael Jewelry in Pittsburgh, as well as Geek Jewelry, a line of super hero and science fiction inspired jewelry.
A kind of modern day renaissance jeweler, with equal parts inventor and anthropologist, Paul shares his insight on how he merges new design and maker methods with traditional bench skills and a genuine interest to create jewelry treasures based on what’s most important to his clients and their wishes.
If you’re a fan of the Avenger movie series or Star Wars, Paul makes jewelry to celebrate your fandom.
Other pop culture stories he uses for his jewelry inspiration are Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Anime, game characters, and more.
I found his jewelry online a few years ago, and did one of my first blog posts about him and his jewelry.
This weekend, we’re traveling to Pittsburgh, and I’ll be visiting Paul in his studio on Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of the City of Bridges.

Spring Fling Jewelry & Accessory Gift Guide

Besides Mother's Day and Father's Day, spring often brings many other reasons to celebrate, like graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and the birth or adoption of a baby.When given or received as a gift, or purchased for ourselves, jewelry allows us to reflect on our life celebrations long after the cake is gone, and streamers are torn down.
 Do you have a special anniversary or birthday this year? Is something worth celebrating happening soon? Is someone close to you graduating from high school or college?
Listen to the fabulous jewelry and accessory gift options by talented designers and jewelers featured in the podcast and coordinating post on Jewelry Navigator.
Tour the galleries for unique jewelry and accessory gifts – either for someone special, or yourself!
http://bit.ly/SpringFlingJewelryGuide

How Spring Cleaning Your Jewelry Could Save You Thousands of Dollars

This podcast shares how you can save thousands of dollar with jewelry that’s been abandoned or forgotten in your jewelry box, as well as the jewelry items you wear on a regular basis.
Spring is the time of year we start fresh by cleaning inside and out,  and clearing out old, worn out items.
The same should go with then contents of your jewelry box.
How many rings, earrings, chains and bracelets have been left to tarnish in the shadows of your jewelry box and drawers?
Did you know you could save thousands of dollars just by going through what’s in your jewelry box, and taking care of the jewelry you wear on a regular basis?
Join me in learning how you can turn what you already have into “new” treasures and jewelry gifts!
Cash Register sound effect by and downloaded at https://www.zapsplat.com
Show Notes:
For more information about gold purity and FTC jewelry policies for consumers see
https://www.ftc.gov
Calla Gold Jewelry on Pearl Restrining
https://www.callagold.com/pearls/the-pitfalls-of-pearl-restringing-what-might-happen-after-restringing/

The Amazing Jewelry Talents of Gemologist and Jeweler, Mary van der Aa

Custom design jewelers, like Mary van der Aa, create jewelry to reflect your unique style characteristics, with your gem, and metal specifications.
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The beauty of working with jewelers like Mary, is that not only does she do all the casting, setting and finishing work herself, but she also has access to custom-cut gemstones by her partner, Todd Wacks, of Tucson Todd Gems.
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As a woman designing and making jewelry, she shares a common perspective we have for beauty, style and balance.
It also doesn't hurt that she designed the pageant crown for Miss Denmark, complete with over 2500 hand-set melee stones!
 
Be sure you're subscribed for your on-time arrival every week to hear jewelry tips and stories! New episodes are released every Thursday.
Special aircraft cabin sound effects by ZapSplat Aircraft in-flight interior ambience as aircraft makes final approach – Airbus A340 commercial jet 2
https://www.zapsplat.com

Bridal Jewelry and Industry Trends With 3rd Generation Jeweler, & Designer, Sarah Hodson of Sarah Michiko Designs

Sarah Hodson of Sarah Michiko Designs, and CADs by Sarah Michiko shares how she brings fresh perspective to her family’s 3rd generation jewelry business.
At the time of this podcast, bridal season in full swing, she also shares rising trends with engagement rings, changes for men’s wedding bands, and advice for women starting out in the jewelry industry.
Her command and expertise in design and jewelry manufacturing allows her to see complex and custom jewelry requests through to happy and return clients.
You can find Sarah’s designs at Sarah Michiko Designs on her website as well as on Instagram, or reach out to her at her family business, Platinum Plus Designs.
 

Travel Safety Tips For Jewelry and Personal Belongings

Spring vacation is here, and part of enjoying your travels includes knowing your belongings will be safe.
Making sure your jewelry and valuables are safe while traveling is as necessary as having your passport and credit cards.
In this episode, I share tips from a few of my travel and safety professional friends and crew members on how you can stay safe and keep your personal belongings, like jewelry and identifications safe while on travel or holiday.