7 minute read
Member Benefits
Use your NAJ membership to step into the new year with confidence in marketing, in business and at trade shows.
To say the last two years have caused uncertainty in the business world would be something of an understatement. Between the pandemic and Brexit, businesses have been constantly reactive as they try to adapt quickly to an everchanging world. While uncertainty remains in 2022, it’s time for companies to reclaim control – to be once again proactive with purpose. The jewellery community is always forward-thinking at the start of a new calendar year, but now it is more important than ever.
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Make your network count
For those in the know, the JET Business Network (JBN) was once the NAJ’s bestkept secret and one of the critical tools that dramatically helped accelerate commercial success. It’s common for business leaders to feel isolated, and, for many, the pandemic has magnified this isolation. Whether you’re a founder finding your way or a leader with both the benefit and burden of multiple generations behind you, wondering if you’re steering the ship in the right direction is an all-too-common concern.
Finding a trusted community to share advice and offload business troubles is vital for leaders looking to take business to the next level. The JBN is such a community – a supportive network of like-minded business leaders with the collective experience and knowledge to help move your business forward. Created for retail jewellers and run by retail jewellers, the JBN is the support you never realised you needed. JBN meetings provide a friendly and collaborative environment to discuss the important issues and opportunities jewellery retailers face. The group is supported by performance benchmarks, educational store visits, an online Q&A forum, and much more.
JBN members are the voice of the network and its strongest advocates.
Stephen Henderson,
Stephen Henderson Ltd.
With the world changing on a near-daily basis, finding a meaningful support network is vital for any business leader.
For more information on joining contact the JBN Facilitator, Michael Donaldson, on…
You can also read Michael’s regular column on page 60
Take control
The show(s) must go on
This year marks a full schedule of in-person trade fairs. Across Europe, the major jewellery shows are making their muchneeded comeback. Historically, the start of the year features a packed schedule of trade events in the UK and the rest of Europe. Familiar names already mark the jewellery calendar, returning in spring and summer. These shows will once again provide a perfect platform to do business for all sectors of the industry.
Thanks to the Association’s close ties with the major shows, NAJ members can take advantage of benefits and discounts that help businesses get the most out of the events. For example, Spring Fair returns in early February with a range of fresh changes and innovations, such as the official launch of Curated Meetings: short, scheduled meetings with qualified buyers. This is not business speed-dating, but meaningful meetings with a mutually expressed interest to do business. Crucially, Curated Meetings are also available to those not exhibiting at Spring Fair. It could be the ideal platform for many NAJ members, particularly with an exclusive 10 per cent member discount when booking a package of 10 meetings or more.
“It’s wonderful to see the return of in-person trade shows again in 2022. There’s no better way to do business, whether you’re a designer, supplier or retailer. Building face-to-face relationships, seeing and touching products and gaining insight into the key trends for the year ahead is invaluable for all jewellery businesses. The NAJ is here to help you make the most of these events through our connections, exhibitor discounts and partnerships with the major trade shows around Europe.”
Lindsey Straughton,
Head of Communications and Industry Liaison
Europe also sees the return of key trade shows, Vicenzaoro and INHORGENTA
Reaching the people that matter
Marketing strategies are at the top of most people’s to-do lists at the start of a new year. They’re also one of the first things we abandon when the day-to-day realities of running a business take over. To start the year off on the right foot, the Association has a series of easy marketing wins for members.
Are you stuck for content ideas? The NAJ’s specially created e-marketing templates are an excellent starting point. Simply edit and send directly to your customer mailing list, upload to your blog or share with your local print media. Each of the templates, designed by leading copywriter Lucy Cripps, is uniquely themed and packed full of marketing prompts and ideas to keep your campaigns fresh and engaging. Give your marketing a kickstart and quickly plan content for the key monthly milestones, including Valentine’s Day and the wedding season. All templates are available to NAJ members in the member resources section on the website.
The Association has invested heavily in driving traffic to its website and Find a Jeweller pages. With improved SEO and advice-packed consumer pages, the NAJ website has seen a staggering 4,000 per cent increase in page views over the past 12 months. This has translated into more eyes on the Find a Jeweller directory than ever before. To make sure potential customers can find your business, it’s essential you keep your profile up to date with your latest collections, company information and contact details.
Finally, the NAJ’s Better Business portal is a treasure trove of knowledge and advice with handy guides and insightful NAJ Live webinars. The portal covers everything you need to do better business. The marketing sections provide actionable advice to instantly improve your social media, grow your customer base and help define your story. Get the most out of your membership
To learn more about the benefits mentioned or discover the full range of services and products, visit the NAJ website or talk to the NAJ membership team and start getting the most out of your membership.
Visit: www.naj.co.uk/benefits Email: membership@naj.co.uk Call: 0121 237 1110
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MUNICH, with international business back on the agenda. For retail members, it’s a crucial way to get a first look at the must-have collections for their stores. For designers and suppliers, the international trade fairs provide the perfect opportunity to broaden their client base.
Keep up to date with the latest trade fair dates and news around the UK and Europe
Visit: naj.co.uk/whats-on
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