Alex Ross, special projects manager and instructor for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Thailand, will give two presentations at the upcoming Malaysia International Jewellery Fair (MIJF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in early July. Ross’s first talk, ‘Selling Jewellery through Product Knowledge,’ on July 10, is based on the Institute’s Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) diploma and will cover essential jewelry-related product knowledge, effective industry sales techniques, and how to communicate the features and benefits of jewelry to customers.
“Each presentation will offer clear and concise information that can easily be understood, assimilated and put into practice on the sales floor immediately,” Ross said. “Learning about what makes each jewelry item special, and how to match it to the right customer, will help retailers sell more effectively.”
Attendees will find the seminar to be informative and very pertinent, especially in today’s economic climate, according to Ken Scarratt, managing director of GIA Southeast Asia and director of the GIA Laboratory in Bangkok. “Alex is a dynamic speaker who carries a wealth of gemological knowledge that anyone can apply to many different jewelry sales situations,” he said.
The second presentation, “Ruby, The King of Precious Stones,” to be delivered on July 11, will cover ruby’s main characteristics, formations, common synthetics and imitations. The lecture will take attendees on a virtual journey through the ruby market, from the gem’s historically significant sources to more recent, controversial locations, Ross said.
Ross, in addition to his formal education at GIA and his background as an instructor, has more than 10 years of experience as a colored stone buyer in Asia and has traveled extensively researching gemstones. For more information, visit www.giathailand.com