Valuers support earthquake-hit NZ jewellers

Posted March 08, 2011 | By Sonia Nair

The international and Kiwi jewellery valuation industry has banded together to organise fundraisers for earthquake-affected jewellers and their families in Christchurch, after the country’s leading trade associations joined forces to offer their support last week.

UK trade valuer Shirley Mitchell whose extended family was left destitute by the earthquake, was a catalyst for action. Members of the Association of Independent Jewellery Valuers (AIJV), of which Mitchell was a part of, subsequently volunteered to donate their valuation fees from February 22 to the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

AIJV founder Adrian Smith said “We are hoping other valuers and associations do the same before the 22nd becomes too distant in the past.”

AIJV member Paul Nilsson went the extra mile. The founder of New Zealand’s gemmological laboratory and jewellery valuer Gemlab organised a two-day fundraiser where valuation fees collected were donated to the same Red Cross relief fund.

Nilsson said he had been discussing with his staff ways to assist victims of the earthquake when the idea for the fundraiser came to him.

To Nilsson’s knowledge, no jewellers and jewellery valuers had suffered physically but they had nonetheless been adversely affected by the earthquake.

“We thought of ways we could help out such as giving blood and making individual donations but I thought the best way to raise funds would be to do what we know best and that is valuing jewellery,” Nilsson said.

Nilsson used social media, emails and pamphlets to urge his existing customers and prospective donors to have their jewellery valued and simultaneously assist victims.

“We are hoping to raise at least $5,000 over the two days. Every cent will be going to the Red Cross relief fund,” Nilsson said before the fundraiser took place.

On a larger scale, the Jewellers Association of New Zealand (JANZ) and the Jewellers and Watchmakers of New Zealand (JWNZ) said they would establish a special bank account to house donations for jewellers affected by the earthquake.

NZRA to launch Retail Show
Separately, the New Zealand Retailers Association (NZRA) has joined forces with Expertise Events to launch New Zealand’s inaugural Retail Show next month.

The show will run alongside NZRA’s National Conference on April 6. NZRA northern regional manager Russell Sinclair said the event was a response to a “major shift in consumer buying habits globally”, which meant that as New Zealand emerged from recession it was “not going to be good news for all retailers”.

“The internet has made the world one huge shopping mall, which local retailers have to compete against, as well as their immediate New Zealand competitiors. Social media is the word of mouth, being price competitive is essential, as well as utilising every technical advantage and delivering excellent customer service,” Sinclair said.

The event will showcase the latest in must-haves for retailers, including technology, fixturing and lighting as well as a model of the ‘store of the future’.

For more information go to www.retail.org.nz.

More reading:
Help at hand for earthquake-hit NZ jewellers