Jeweller recently reported on startling comments by Richard Morgan, a director and national sales manager of Keda Konsulting. He suggested that Nationwide Jewellers had “bastardised the other fair” in reference to the International Jewellery Fair.
Keda Konsulting was an exhibitor at the rival Jewellery Industry Fair running simultaneously on the same weekend in Sydney. The Jewellery Industry Fair is organised by the Jewellery Industry Network.
Morgan's comments appeared on the Jewellers Co. (formally Young Jewellers Group) Facebook page, which was established in 2011 as an industry forum.
Jewellers Co. is owned by Brett Low and Ewen Ryley, two of the founders of the Jewellery Industry Network.
When Morgan’s post was first published by Jewellers Co., Morgan was contacted for comment but he did not reply; however, the post was then deleted.
Sources have since confirmed that he issued an apology to Nationwide Jewellers yesterday. Jeweller contacted Morgan about his apology; however, he did not respond.
Nationwide Jewellers general manager Glen Pocklington did not wish to address Morgan’s comments directly; however, he could discuss the buying group’s purpose at the Sydney Fair.
“One of our primary goals is to support the jewellery industry by helping to bring together the largest number of retailers and suppliers from our group during the peak buying window of the year,” he told Jeweller.
“To that end, we attend the International Jewellery Fair each year in Sydney, supporting around 80 of our preferred suppliers who also exhibit there.”
He added: “This year’s fair was a great success; we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both our members and preferred suppliers despite the challenging economic environment.”
Morgan’s attack on Nationwide stemmed from an earlier post on Jewellers Co. that targeted the International Jewellery Fair.
He posted an unsubstantiated report that a shuttle bus service between the two shows was interfered with.
“Someone mentioned to me that someone at the other fair [IJF] was stopping the buses from leaving or attempting to,” Morgan’s post read.
He added: "As a supplier, this damages the businesses of 50 to 60+ plus suppliers. Can anyone confirm this, please?”
Other Jewellers Co. members challenged his comments, and Morgan did not offer an explanation about his allegations when contacted last week.
Following news that he has issued an apology to Nationwide - Australia’s largest retail buying group - Jeweller asked Morgan if he had, or intended to, apologise to Expertise Events given the severity of the unsubstantiated allegation. At the time of publication, Morgan had not responded.
When contacted last week, Expertise Events managing director Gary Fitz-Roy denied any wrongdoing and suggested that any confusion over the transport between the two events was caused by the Jewellery Industry Network.
“It is divisive and unhelpful when the economy is struggling and times are tough for the industry. What is the benefit of the second show if all it is doing is creating division and resentment among jewellers and wholesalers?” Fitz-Roy said.
He confirmed that Morgan has not apologised to Expertise Events over the unsubstantiated claims.
Jewellery Trade Shows IV: Sydney’s confused jewellery commuters provides an in-depth explanation of the confusion surrounding the transport between the two fairs.
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