What are the prerequisites for joining?
Members must operate a retail jewellery store and have satisfactory credit references. Most new stores are recommended to us by suppliers or existing Nationwide members. What are the benefits of joining? - We are the largest network with more than 500 jewellery stores delivering team support and significant buying power
- Guaranteed most profitable discount structure in the industry
- The support of experienced staff on call
- Exclusive branded collections, including Tolkowsky and Astralis Diamonds
- Overseas travel and free conferences
- Education and training courses
- An extensive range of professional marketing material and promotions
- Nothing is compulsory – retailers maintain their complete independence.
What unique benefits are offered? - The buying power of more than 500 stores combined with a sophisticated finance model enables Nationwide to deliver what we believe to be the most profitable discount structure in the industry. In fact, we give a written guarantee that jewellers – even if you were previously in another group – will be more profitable with Nationwide
- We offer up to $150,000 per year interest free finance to each retailer
- Our Antwerp marketing program has increased diamond sales by more than $100,000 per year for many members
- Free annual conference for all retailers earning reward status
- We recognise the importance of marketing to your strength – your independence – which is why all of our services are designed to assist jewellers to not only maintain their independence but to maximise the benefits of being an independent jeweller. Members select only what works for them.
What have been Nationwide’s major achievements in the past two years? - In March 2015 we took a third group of members on our Diamond Safari trip, visiting the Jwaneng diamond mine, the De Beers Group’s rough sorting facility and a large cutting factory in Gaborone, Botswana. The group also travelled to Antwerp to complete the journey of the diamond
- Giving more than 30 members an Antwerp Diamond Marketing award for pre-sales of $50,000 or more on a diamond buying trip
- Producing our upmarket ‘Dreams’ collection booklet – featuring high-end jewellery
- Introducing the Jewellers Guardian online 24/7 benchmarking system that compares all of the critical data for jewellery stores.
Has your traditional marketing changed in the past two years?
We still produce Christmas catalogues as well as POS material for other promotions. Our graphic artists create various marketing material for members to use in print and/or social media. An increasing number of members are utilising our design services to more effectively promote via social media, which has prompted us to create our recently announced social media library. How have you improved your B2C online and social media marketing strategy?
We have loaded additional stock items to our online store and updated the layout of member websites. We can provide members with an e-commerce website for only $2,900, charged over 12 months. All online purchases are transacted via Nationwide’s head office. The retail margin is credited to the relevant member with no work required by store staff. What B2B and internal digital technology have you recently implemented?
Our weekly enews broadcasts keep our retailers updated on the latest trends and industry news and events. More importantly, it includes the hottest deals from our preferred suppliers, while our online forum, ‘In The Loupe’, has been a remarkable success. It has two main areas: - Product search: enables retailers to network and help each other
source discontinued, out of stock and hard to find products; - Discussion topics: members utilise this platform to exchange ideas on
topics of mutual interest.
What other kind of promotional support do you offer members?
Our in-house marketing team develops exclusive marketing tools linked to key promotional periods. Individualised marketing calendars can be created on request and POS material is continually produced to highlight current best-selling product. Members also have access to an online marketing and promotional library from which they can select promotions and ideas. Our graphic design service is free and staff constantly work to fine-tune concepts and create exclusive promotions for individual stores. How do you support local designers/manufacturers?
Over the past eight years we have given apprentices more than $100,000 in tool vouchers. We conduct an annual skill-based contest for apprentices, with the winner receiving our Apprentice of the Year award. In 2015 we also introduced a design contest for our manufacturing jewellers. Winners receive PR material to promote their success to customers. What is the cost of membership?
Absolutely nothing – and there are no agency fees or security deposits. How have you improved your training and education in the past two years?
Our Diamond Grading Workshops conducted at the annual Sydney International Jewellery Fair continue to be a success. Last year we added a session on man-made and synthetic diamonds. In addition, our Your Money booklets, which offer guidance on best practice in areas like mark-ups and pricing, financial operations and benchmarking, have been updated and refreshed. |