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The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) is delighted to announce the final speaker and sessions for this year’s Retail Jewellers’ Congress. The anticipated one-day event, taking place on Monday, June 24, will explore how jewellery retailers can survive and thrive in a changing retail landscape, encompassed in the theme – Think Different to Be Different.

The NAJ JET Business Network (JBN) has announced two more speakers scheduled to appear at the upcoming Retail Jewellers’ Congress, which will take place at the NAJ Summit 2024 on Monday, June 24.

View the NAJ Summit 2024

Andy Edwards, founder of TimeSmart, will deliver a session titled Time Smart Retail Management. After twenty years in retail, Andy founded TimeSmart to help business owners and professionals regain control of their time and deliver better results. As a business owner in these rapidly changing times, it can often feel like there is never enough time to get everything done, leading to long days, working weekends, evenings and late into the night to compensate. This session is about understanding why this is, and more importantly, how we can approach our work and our life within this noisy, chaotic, and distracting world, we now live in to ensure we do have the time and focus we need to get the important stuff done, that will truly make the difference.

Finally, JBN Facilitator Michael Donaldson will lead an interactive show-and-tell session. The show and tell session have become a familiar feature of Congress since 2019 and is time set aside in the afternoon for the members to get up from their tables and walk the room exchanging experiences and tips with each other on how things ‘on the topic of the day’ are done back in their stores.

This year’s show and tell is Basic but Vital Forms. Such as guarantees, repair price lists, receipt templates, bespoke customer contracts, special order pads, scrap buying over the counter, the right to sell, data capture, taking in repairs, margin scheme, ring cutting disclaimers, taking on valuations, and goods left on site. Perhaps not the most exciting subjects, but there’s always a buzz at the JBN regional meetings when a member brings an improvement to something that others thought didn’t need improving or wasn’t worth the time or effort to try and improve, or it could just be something that highlights how inefficient the process established by those that went before them, has become.

Previously announced speakers at this year’s Retail Jewellers’ Congress include…

NearSt co-founder and CEO Nick Brackenbury will explore how to drive local shoppers into your retail store. In this session, Nick explores how the lines between online and offline retail are merging and takes a deep dive into Boodles’s approach to attracting local shoppers into their stores.

Jude Jennison, founder of Leaders by Nature, a company developing leaders and aligning teams through disruptive change, will dive into Leading Through Uncertain Times.

A dynamic one-hour innovation session with Nikolas Venios from The Ideas Agency. Discover how to tackle challenges by delving deep into the core of the issue and brace yourself for an electrifying journey as attendees explore cutting-edge problem-solving techniques.

Sales Growth consultant, Jonathan Ratcliff, will deliver a personal presentation on the blind spots of business leadership.

Tax specialist, Nick Latimer, explores the tax issues that need to be considered when trying new things or passing on the family jewels, along with how to take advantage of tax reliefs wherever available.

Ben Massey, NAJ CEO, shares,

” We know that business is often cyclical and is particularly hard out there at the moment. It is why events such as the Retail Jewellers’ Congress are vital in making sure business leaders are accessing ideas, information, and assurance from knowledgeable and been-there-done-it speakers, and sharing and learning from other like-minded leaders in a supportive environment. If you run an independent jewellery retail business, can you afford to miss it?”

What is the Retail Jewellers’ Congress?

The Annual Retail Jewellers’ Congress has been a longstanding and popular event for independent jewellery retailers to come together, network, and hear from esteemed speakers on topics and challenges reported by the NAJ’s independent jewellery retailer network – the JBN.

Regular Congress attendee, Cynthia Cartwright, Commercial Director of Wongs Jewellers, shares,

“Congress offers inspirational speakers, insightful perspectives, and invaluable networking opportunities that can really shape business strategies. It’s a vibrant event with a jam-packed schedule to maximize learning opportunities. If you’re looking to improve your business, then you need to be there.”

What is the NAJ Summit?

The extended weekend, taking place from the 22-24 June 2024 at Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham, will once again feature the Valuers’ Conference hosted by the Institute of Registered Valuers and the Retail Jeweller’s Congress hosted by the JET Business Network, creating an unmissable three days of connecting with peers and knowledge-sharing.

NAJ Tickets are priced at day rates, with significant discounts available when booking multiple days or additional tickets.

Receive 20% off the price of a second ticket and 30% off a third ticket when purchasing tickets for multiple staff members.

The day rate includes access to the talks and workshops on your chosen day, plus food and refreshments.

1 day – £245 + VAT (NAJ/IRV members) / £295 + VAT (non-members)

2 days – £360 + VAT (NAJ/IRV members) / £410 + VAT (non-members)

3 days – £455 + VAT (NAJ/IRV members) / £495 + VAT (non-members)

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