Lindsey's Industry Insights for June 2021

04 Jun 2021

Lindsey Straughton, NAJ Head of Communications & Industry Liaison 

While spring passed by without any UK trade shows taking place, this month has brought renewed optimism alongside vaccinations and so planning for the autumn shows and events are full steam ahead!

The BBC competition ‘All that Glitters’ highlighted the importance of unique design coupled with bench skills, so I’m delighted that despite there being no IJL 2021, the call for Bright Young Gems applicants has gone out to colleges with jewellery or silversmithing courses. The chosen students will be offered mentoring and a chance to showcase at The Jewellery Festival accompanying the UK JewelleryAwards on 1st September. Later in the month the NEC promises new opportunities for suppliers and retailers at Jewellery Watch & Fashion, while smaller edited exclusive shows like Scoop, Pure and The Jewellery Cut offer stylish experiences to tempt us back to our capital city.

The event I’m thrilled to be working on is the NAJ Summit (11th-13th September) in the Northamptonshire countryside. This will truly bring the whole jewellery industry together with seminars, sales and networking events alongside professional development opportunities. I urge you to join us and reunite with customers and colleagues alike. Please spread the word – we are known to be a very sociable industry!

Government liaison continues to be very important as everyone tries to get to grips with the new post-Brexit import/export paperwork, as well as an additional convention mark alongside their hallmark. Grants are being offered regionally to encourage technical improvements – including websites – via Chambers of Commerce and through our own export department who will process your paperwork for a Kickstarter employee grant, which is a great help.

Following the governmental review into Tax-Free Shopping, this perk remains unavailable for international shoppers. However, it can be reviewed again in 2022, so when travel returns to normal, we have been asked to report any significant changes in retail behaviour or sales figures that our members record. Over to you – your help would be greatly appreciated.

As more trade deals are negotiated, opinions and guidance are being requested by Minister Paul Scully (and even Minister of State Lord Frost) at the Department for Business, Energy & Industry Strategy, so please feedback your worries, observations and thoughts so that we can pass them on.

And finally, as my job title is Head of Communications & Industry Liaison at the NAJ, the opportunity has arisen for there to be a number of new NAJ Ambassadors to advocate for a wide variety of trade sectors. Please do get in touch if you are passionate about championing your specialist field and the work of the NAJ.

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Source: The National Association of Jewellers