March 2024- RJO Inside Track

INSIDE TRACK

Newsletter

The latest RJO news and announcements

IMPORTANT

March DATES

March 8th

Payments due in RJO Office

March 10th

Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 17th

St. Patrick’s Day

March 19th

First day of Spring

March 22nd RJO Invoice Cut Off

March 31st Easter

LEAPING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS!

There has been some fun energy in the RJO office since we returned home from the show Show time is always my favorite time of the year as I often return energized and reminded why we do what we do It so much fun to celebrate the achievements of our members and vendors. One of the latest? RJO just hit ANOTHER record breaking show! You read that right, not only did we enjoy incredible weather and beautiful scenery, but RJO broke not one, but two, records this show and tied with a third. Be sure review below and check out the upcoming edition of in the loupe for all the details!

Records aren’t the only thing at the forefront of our minds. RJO has many opportunities to grow both your knowledge AND your business this year including additional GIA partnerships for continuing education, and the upcoming RJO Rock Tour taking place this October

The RJO office is already diving into preparations for the Summer Buying Show in St. Louis, Missouri. We hope you will join us August 2nd through 5th.

Speaking of shows, keep your eyes open for the Summer Show Hotel Room Block Link. We will be releasing this link in mid-April for you to book your rooms EARLY. RJO releases this link to retailers a few weeks before it is released to vendors, allowing you a chance to snatch up your rooms Rooms are expected to go fast, so don't delay and book your room as soon as the link is available

Make the most of the extra day we are given this year and have a great March!

We wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your participation in the recent buying show. Your presence and engagement contributed significantly to its success

As we strive for continuous improvement, we highly value your feedback on the event. Your insights and suggestions will help us enhance future buying shows and tailor them to better meet your needs.

Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us by completing the feedback form linked below:

We are still missing many voucher sheets from the Palm Springs Show, and we kindly request that every effort be made to send them in as soon as possible You can send your voucher sheets the following ways:

MAIL:

RJO-Sales Sheets PO Box 1045 Newton, Ia 50208

RJO is proud to announce Palm Springs was yet another record-breaking show! Thanks to the participation and loyalty of RJO retailers and vendors, RJO saw the following records broken or tied in Palm Springs:

RJO topped $16 million in Show sales, beating the previous Winter Show record of $15 7 million set in San Antonio; 407 retail stores were onsite in Palm Springs, RJO’s previous record was set in Nashville in 2019 with 396 stores attending 207 vendor booths were active in Palm Springs, tying the previous record of 207 in Philadelphia last summer

The

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Rock RockTour Tour

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Octillion

August 2024:

These seminars take place at the St. Louis Buying Show on Friday, August 2nd. All participants receive a certificate of completion

Cost: $195/attendee

September 2024:

This week long course takes place in Neenah, WI from September 30thOctober 4th.

Cost: $2,800/attendee

RJO SUMMER BUYING SHOW

COMING TO ST. LOUIS!

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RJO is incredibly excited to partner with GIA Alumni Collective™ to present two continuing education seminars led by experts from industry heavyweight and a leader in education, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Seminars will be held on-site in St. Louis at the RJO Summer Buying Show. Space is very limited as each seminar is limited to 24 participants and attendees must be pre-registered to attend There is a $195 fee per attendee for each seminar and includes all course materials and supplies including a Letter of Attendance.

INTRODUCTIONTOCOLOREDSTONES

TIME:FRIDAY,AUGUST2,2024,3:00 4:30PM

This seminar will introduce the core concepts that buyers and sellers of colored stones should know to have informed discussions with their customers, including how to identify and explain key attributes that determine a gem’s value, common treatments applied to gems and how to translate characteristics into compelling features and benefits.

Participants are encouraged to ask questions as they are guided by a GIA instructor who will share their expertise through illustrations, images and lecture. This course is ideal for sales associates, colored gemstone investors and enthusiasts

OVERVIEWOFLABORATORY-GROWNDIAMONDS

TIME:FRIDAY,AUGUST2,2024,5:00 6:30P.M.

This seminar will provide essential knowledge about laboratory-grown diamonds that will give gem and jewelry professionals the confidence to have responsible discussions with their customers. Key topics will include the main production methods (HPHT and CVD), a review of important U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations, and the services, methods and instruments that can help to distinguish laboratory-grown and natural diamonds, including GIA Laboratory Reports and the GIA iD100™ gem testing device.

Participants are encouraged to ask questions as they are guided by a GIA instructor who will share their expertise through illustrations, images and lecture This course is ideal for sales associates, colored gemstone investors and enthusiasts

Continued Education

GIA DIAMOND GRADING LAB SEMINAR

Throughauniquecombinationofhands-ontraining,one-on-onecoachingandmultimedia,theDiamond GradingLabexploreshowtogradediamondsconsistentlyandaccuratelyusingamoderngemmicroscope andaloupe.

RJOisveryexcitedtohavecollaboratedwithGIAandtheJewelersMutualGrouptobringtheGIA DiamondGradingLabtotheMidwest ThisopportunityisexclusivetoRJOretailersandoffersacentral locationtohostthispopularclass RJOvendor,JewelersMutual,hasgraciouslyofferedtohosttheclass intheirfacility,locatedinNeenah,WI TheDiamondGradingLabwillbeheldtheweekofSeptember 30th-October4thandwillcost$2,800/attendee ThisclasswillbefacilitatedbyaGIAInstructorandis limitedtothefirst15registeredstudents.