Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
JA Hires Mark Smelzer, Elizabeth Brewer as Consultants
The industry veterans will help Jewelers of America enhance membership and consumer marketing.
New York—Jewelers of America has hired industry veterans Mark Smelzer and Elizabeth Brewer as consultants to enhance two of the association’s core priorities: consumer marketing and membership.
Smelzer will assist in the strategic development of a consumer marketing initiative to launch in early 2019.
The longtime publisher of JCK magazine and JCKOnline, Smelzer is now the principal of his own consulting company, Mark Smelzer LLC. His career experience includes magazine and website publishing, sales and marketing, content marketing, and “native” advertising and brand ambassadorship.
Brewer, meanwhile, will help JA’s membership department enhance engagement with its retail membership base.
With nearly two decades of experience in the jewelry industry, Brewer has held key positions at Brown + Partners, De Boulle Diamond & Jewelry, the American Gem Trade Association and Diamond Council of America.
She holds a bachelor’s in advertising and public relations from the University of Mississippi and has studied at the Gemological Institute of America.
“The addition of Elizabeth and Mark in consultant roles will play a big part in our continued commitment to membership growth and consumer marketing, which are essential to our mission to improve confidence in the jewelry industry,” JA President and CEO David J. Bonaparte said.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, which purchased the publication in 2015. The two organizations act independently of each other.
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