Independent Jewellers Collective, led by CEO Joshua Zarb, has secured its 100th independent retail store.
It’s been a rapid rise to prominence for the group, which formed amid far-from-ideal circumstances in January 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Zarb, a former managing director of Leading Edge, confirmed that the group reached the 50-store milestone in September 2020. He told Jeweller that recruiting new stores has been a steady and patient process since then.
“We have a small team of specialists that live and breathe modern jewellery retail and marketing best practices, and to think that just a few years ago, we started IJC during the height of a pandemic, we still pinch ourselves daily,” he said.
“Reaching 100 stores is something that we are so humbled by and so proud of. We are truly doing what we are passionate about, with a group of people that we care about deeply.”
This will be a week to remember for IJC, beginning with a two-day conference under the theme of NEW NOW NEXT.
The conference will include three keynote presentations from Melissa Brown, Anaita Sarker, and Jennifer Rowland. These sessions will cover various topics, including the psychology of pricing, digital marketing strategies, and a jewellery design and sketching workshop.
The buying group will also announce the Retailer of the Year award winners and host special workshops on jewellery technology and strategic planning for the Christmas period.
Director of marketing Summer Gartrell said addressing the unique challenges faced by modern retailers is central to the group's work.
“We understand that our retailers are exceptionally time-poor, which is why they rely on our expertise to manage the complexities of modern retailing, allowing them to focus on their core business,” she explained.
“We empower our members to engage in innovative and unique ways, partnering with our team of specialists to deliver expertise and assistance where it truly counts.”
With the International Jewellery Fair beginning in Sydney on Saturday, Zarb said he expects the group to have a significant presence on the show floor.
“There are two things I love to do at jewellery fairs. The first is to spend time face-to-face with our members, and the second is to meet and greet retailers who may potentially join the group in the future,” he said.
“We’ve got a record attendance scheduled for our conference, and IJC members will be out in force at the Sydney Fair. Everything is coming together fantastically, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Jeweller’s 2024 State of the Industry Report extensively documented the evolution of Australia’s industry buying groups over the past decade.
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