Australia’s largest industry buying group has set its sights on Botswana and Antwerp in August-September 2027, taking members on a tour from one end of the diamond industry supply chain to the other.
Botswana is a familiar stomping ground for the group, with 85 members participating in the group’s previous Botswana trips in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
This time around, members will have the opportunity to visit the Jwaneng diamond mine, recognised as the world’s largest diamond mine by value of production, as well as the Diamond Trading Company rough sorting facility and a cutting factory.
The group will then travel to Antwerp, Belgium, continuing a long-standing focus on tracing diamonds from mine to consumer. While in Antwerp, members will visit several diamond sightholders. Chief operating officer Glen Pocklington said members will have the opportunity to source diamonds for customer orders and other business requirements.
“These trips provide members with an invaluable opportunity to see the diamond supply chain firsthand, while also creating significant marketing opportunities for their businesses,” he explained.
“We understand that Nationwide members remain the only jewellery retailers to have visited both the Jwaneng mine and the DTC sorting facility, which makes the experience particularly unique for our members and their customers.”
In March of this year, Nationwide hosted a voyage to India. After the success of that trip, the group has now confirmed Türkiye as the destination for its May 2028 overseas trip, with an optional extension to Greece.
“We anticipate that between 50 and 60 members will join us for the Türkiye trip,” Pocklington added.
Other developments
Among the other major announcements was the launch of the group’s new Two-Minute Budget Builder, an interactive financial management tool designed specifically for jewellery retailers.
The simple-to-use tool provides members with an instant indication of whether their planned financial results meet six key jewellery industry benchmarks. Pocklington explained that benchmarks met are highlighted in green, while those falling outside are highlighted in red.
“We recognise the importance of being in financial control of a jewellery business, particularly during the more challenging periods of an economic cycle,” he said.
“The design and simplicity of the Budget Builder comes from decades of working with retail jewellers, studying their businesses and helping members better understand their financial results and improve profitability.”
Each month, members can enter their actual sales and gross profit figures, allowing the system to generate a rolling 12-month ‘latest estimate’ of their trading results.
• Nationwide is also assisting members who wish to implement the AML/CTF Streamlined System. Members can download the completed documents through the group’s online dashboard, giving them a practical starting point for establishing their AML/CTF Compliance Program.
“Enrolling with AUSTRAC and using the Starter Kits to establish a compliant AML/CTF program is a significant and somewhat complicated task for a business owner,” Pocklington said.
“To make the process easier for our members, Nationwide has downloaded and pre-populated the 11 required documents. Members simply need to replace the sample owner and staff names with their own details.”
These initiatives form part of Nationwide Jewellers’ ongoing focus on providing members with practical business support, education, financial tools, and unique opportunities to strengthen their businesses and better serve their customers.
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