Nationwide’s managing director, Colin Pocklington, said the presenter would not be revealed until the day of the conference, which will take place in mid-June 2014 at the Pullman Cairns International Hotel.
“All we are giving away is that the speaker is a former Australian Olympic champion. We believe that members are going to really enjoy the presentation,” he explained.
The conference will also feature seminars, workshops and a buying day.
Two social media workshops have already been confirmed, Facebook 101 – Setting Up your Business Facebook page, and Advanced Facebook Marketing. Other workshop topics will be announced in the coming months.
As previously reported by Jeweller, Nationwide reported a record attendance at its annual conference this year. The event, held at the Gold Coast, was attended by 210 members from 102 stores in Australia and New Zealand.
Pearls in Japan
Nationwide also announced that members attending the trip to Japan in March next year would have the opportunity to visit a working pearl farm.
Visitors will observe various parts of the pearling process including the rafts where oysters are suspended, the different types of oysters used in the process, the bead being inserted in the oyster and the cleaning machine that is used to clean the pearl bearing oyster.
Nationwide director Barry Jackson commented: “The sale of pearls in Australasia are on a high currently, with retailers selling more pearls than in the past 10 years.”
“Our members will leave Japan with a greatly increased product knowledge and a new appreciation of the cultured pearl industry,” he said.
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Record attendance at Nationwide conference