Jun

4

Zimbabwean Human Rights Activist Farai Maguwu

June 4, 2012 | Comments Off

RAPAPORT… Press Release, May 7, 2012, New York: Farai Maguwu, the award winning Zimbabwean human rights activist, will lead a special session at the Rapaport Fair Trade Jewelry Conference on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 10:00 am in the Banyan Room, Mandalay Bay Hotel during the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show. Mr Maguwu will also speak briefly at the Rapaport Breakfast, South Seas Ballroom at 8:30 am. There will also be a special luncheon honoring Farai Maguwu at 12 noon of the same day.

Mr. Maguwu, Director of the Center for Research and Development in Zimbabwe, has been at the forefront of human rights advocacy in Zimbabwe. He has risked his life and freedom to inform the world of the horrific human rights abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.

In May 2010, Maguwu’s house was raided by Zimbabwean authorities and he was arrested on false charges after giving information to the Kimberley Process monitor. Despite being sent to prison and denied proper medical care for over a month, Maguwu emerged dedicated and committed to ensuring the rights of Marange diggers. In November 2011 Maguwu was honored by Human Rights Watch with the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

“Farai Maguwu is a true human rights hero who has risked his life to protect the lives, freedom and human rights of diamond diggers. He is someone that every ethical person in the diamond industry should support, honor and emulate. As an industry and as individuals we must stand up and proclaim that the sanctity of life and the human rights of diggers are more important to us than diamond profits. I encourage every member of our industry to meet Farai Maguwu and support his goals,” notes Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group.

The Rapaport Fair Trade Conference will be followed by a special lunch honoring Mr. Maguwu. Those wishing to participate can email fairtrade@diamonds.net, Space is very limited.

Those wishing to support the work of Mr. Maguwu are encouraged to make a donation to the Fair Trade Jewelry Association, a US registered 501c3 charity.

For more information about the Rapaport Fair Trade Conference, the special lunch or donations please contact Rapaport Fair Trade, +1-702-893-9400, email fairtrade@diamonds.net.

Rapaport Media Contacts: media@diamonds.net
International: Alissa Goren +1-718-473-0882<> U.S.: Sherri Hendricks +1-702-893-9400 <> Mumbai: Mittal Kalsy, +1-91-97699-30069

About the Rapaport Group: The Rapaport Group is an international network of companies providing added value services that support the development of free, fair and competitive global diamond markets. Established in 1978, the Rapaport Diamond Report is the primary source of diamond prices and market information. Group activities include publishing, research and marketing services, internet information and diamond trading networks, global rough and polished diamond tenders, diamond certification, quality- control, compliance, shipping, and financial services. Major activities of the group include the development of markets for Fair Trade Diamonds and Jewelry as well as the creation of diamond futures markets. Additional information is available at www.Rapaport.com.

Jan

22

As a small business owner all too often I was faced with this dilemma.

Business was slow and the only way I could think to liven it up was to advertise.

The local newspaper was too expensive to advertise in more than once, and besides, what was I going to advertise that would bring the locals to my store?

There is a solution. Leveraged Advertising.

Let your common sense decide for you.
WHICH WOULD GET THE MOST LOCAL PUBLIC INTEREST?

  1. You could advertise a SALE
    Or     You could advertise an AUCTION.
  2. You could advertise in the Local Newspapers
    Or     you could use your own mailing or email list of customers and pass out flyers in your store.


Turn your UNWANTED INVENTORY into a magnet to attract customers THEN SELL the Inventory for CASH.


HERE IS THE DEAL:

Pick 30 Unwanted items of VALUE from your store to be Auctioned on the net.

PUT UP SIGNS IN YOUR STORE ANNOUNCING THE DATE AND TIME for the AUCTION. Showcase the Merchandise.

PASS OUT AND SEND OUT FLYERS TO ATTRACT AS MUCH ATTENTION AS YOU CAN, ELIMINATING ANY PAID ADVERTISING. Include all information about the items up for auction.

THERE, YOU HAVE AN EVENT AUCTION.
Event Auctions are LIVE, in one session, by State, City and Your Company.

Here is what is in it for You
THE LOCAL ADVANTAGE
       NO SHIPPING

  1. Use the internet to sell to local residents and bring them into your store.
  2. Get the public’s attention by putting up AUCTION Signs. People LOVE AUCTIONS.
  3. Renew attention of old customers from your email or mail list. You may want to place a classified ad in the auction section of the Sunday paper.
  4. Bring people into your store to Preview the AUCTION and get info.
  5. Bring the Winners into your store to pick up their items.
  6. Opportunity to show and sell other items to all concerned, create activity.

You use unwanted merchandise to generate TRAFFIC FLOW and CASH Flow.
Use frequency to build a following.

This is Leveraged Advertising

Get away from Ebay. Create your Own Following and have your Own Auction.
Consider, what You could do with Your Very Own Auction on the Net.
This is a superior method for a Quitting Business Sale, Stock Liquidation, Grand Opening Sale or any type of Sale that would Benefit from an Internet AUCTION FROM YOUR STORE but THE BIDDING IS ON THE NET.

Event Auctions can have up to 1500 items.

Visit Blackwells Live Auction Here

 

Mar

1

(I-Newswire) - Diamond is forever. This one liner has pushed the sale of diamonds to a new high. Amazon.com’s diamond sales increased more than 100 percent in fourth quarter 2007 compared with fourth quarter 2006, the online retailer announced. However, Amazon couldn’t back up its claim.

But the company did say that with each quarter, there has been considerable increase in the number of customers who bought diamond jewelry from its Jewelry & Watches store, maybe, especially for important gift-giving occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

The most sought after item during the period included the 14 karat white gold journey Curve pendant, platinum diamond stud earrings and the 2 Carat Round Cut Stone. Diamond-encrusted watches and various black diamond jewelry items reportedly also did very well. Most of these items are sold low cost, priced below $100.

Diamond sale shot up primarily for the reason that Amazon added over 150 new black diamond styles in the fourth quarter alone. One of the leading top sellers was the Black and White Diamond Infinity Pendant, and top-selling diamond watches in the fourth quarter included the Cartier Tank Divan 18 karat yellow gold diamond mini ladies watch, the Chopard Happy Sport ladies watch and Movado Kara watch.

In addition to the increase in sale of diamonds,sale of gemstone jewelry increased. Top-selling gemstones that got popular included 14 karat white gold coated Swiss blue topaz teardrop earrings, 14 karat white gold round blue topaz and diamond pendant and 14 karat yellow gold, channel set round coated blue topaz hoop earrings.
www.sparkleice.com

Feb

27

Blackwells now has a journal on AOL, so feel free to visit us there and chat.
We would love to hear from you! The journal is: http://journals.aol.com/howtostopebay/how-to-stop-ebay/

Don’t forget you can sell all your items, jewelry, collectibles, stamps, coins, antiques, clothing, furniture – it doesn’t matter what it is – all items are only $2.99 each to sell on Blackwells Live Auction.com.

See you at the auction!!

Feb

24

If you want change, if you want to sell your items online, then it may be time for a
change – it is time for you to try a LIVE Online Auction.
  Do you want to sell now with a live online auction or sometime later? The answer: NOW!
  The following is a compare/contrast example from Blackwells Live Auction.com on the benefits of a live auction over a static auction.
 
Live Auctions: How to aggressively go after a buyer:
 
1. Items are showcased in a preview for up to 14 days.
 
2. Your Item is presented at a Live Auction for Sale.
 
3.  Your item is sold or not sold and you will know immediately. Your item will have a great chance of selling as it will be presented to the Internet in a Live Auction Setting, where competitive bidding prevails. Live Auctions are the best.
 
4. Not all items sell right away. Some of the reasons: price too high, quality is an  issue, not the right buyers at the auction. This can happen at any auction.
 
5. Tip: You can rotate your inventory on our site until you find the right buyers to bid for your item.
 
 Being aggressive means you search for a buyer.
 
Static Online Auctions: Passively waiting until a buyer shows up
 
1.  Show your item on a static page.
 
2.  Put a buy price on it or let it gather bids.
 
3.  Hope someone that wants it, finds it.
 
4.  Hope you do not have to negotiate.
 
5.  Hope you make a sale.
 
This type of selling is stagnant and lacks the charm, suspense and excitement of a Real Live Auction.
 
 Being passive means you wait for a buyer to come along.
  The benefit of a live, online auction: They are good for the seller as well as the buyer. The buyer finds what they want at a fair auction price. Visit an online auction site today: www.blackwellsliveauction.com

Feb

17

(I-Newswire) - LosAngeles,CA (  Inewswire  ) After 37 years in the retail jewelry business, the Mehta family, owners of The Trendz online diamond engagement ring ( http://www.thetrendz.com ). store, understand the troubles men face when choosing an engagement ring. 

To extend their unique and friendly brand of customer service to their online consumers, The Trendz has announced it will now offer real-time personalized shopping service phone consultation to shoppers. 

“Many men have no idea where to begin when choosing a diamond engagement ring for their bride to be.  Our engagement specialists help you with everything from choosing the right style for her personality to determining ring size without being obvious about his upcoming proposal,” says Ashok Mehta, owner of TheTrendz.com ( http://www.thetrendz.com ).

Mehta says that many men are surprised to learn that different diamond engagement ring styles have different symbolic meanings.  While the ring itself is symbolic of a love with no end, the stones themselves can also add deeper layers of symbolism such as a trio of diamonds that represents the past, present, and future of a couple’s life together. 

Engagement specialists will work with shoppers to answer questions about choosing and purchasing an engagement ring.  Engagement specialists can also provide additional insight about engagement rings that they may not have considered, but that will show the bride-to-be that her new fiancé has put considerable thought into choosing her ring.

To take advantage of The Trendz free engagement specialist consulting services, shoppers can call 866-337-9464 between 9am and 6pm Pacific Standard Time.

“We’ve had people ask us everything from the standard questions about sizing to suggestions for how to propose.  It’s very rewarding to know that we’re helping to create a special moment that will live in a couple’s memory for a lifetime,” says Mehta.

About The Trendz:  The Trendz ( http://www.thetrendz.com ) is operated by the Mehta family – a family of jewelers in business since 1970.  The Trendz offers unbeatable prices on high quality diamond engagement rings, diamond anniversary rings, journey diamond jewelry, Croton watches, gold pendants and earrings, bracelets and many other precious jewelry items. 

Contact:
The Trendz
550 South Hill St., Suite #693
Jewelry District, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Feb

14

Have a great Valentine’s Day! Hope it is filled with chocolate and sweets!

Feb

14

I’m not sure why it is so nice to collect things like stamps, toys, watches and antiques, but it just is. I know I am not alone in this because it is a big business.

Not too long ago my daughter wanted to buy some vintage clothes so we headed off to some second-hand stores and it turned out to be a great experience. While she was looking at clothes, I was looking at “stuff!”

 I found some amazing watches ( I am a watch collector) and some great antique chairs. On this trip I didn’t buy anything, it was merely a window-shopping trip, but my daughter did find some vintage coats she liked.

One of the coats was a brown and black fur coat. While we assume the coat was fake due to the price tag, she is thrilled just the same and I am happy to know no one will be picketing our house over killing little loveable animals. I live on a farm by the way, so they would probably quickly realize we would never buy real fur.

On our shopping trip we also found a blue cape that was worn by some famous lady who ran some famous benefit ball in the 1950s. We weren’t familiar with the lady or the ball, but the $375 price tag stopped us regardless.

The best thing about our day of looking at “stuff” was that when we go back again, or go online, we will find all new stuff next time. I would love to find a really old watch worn by someone famous while conducting a famous benefit…but if I don’t find it, I can always buy a cape.

Feb

11

Daryle Lambert, founder of the 31 Club – Building Personal Wealth Step by Step with Fine Art, Antiques & Collectibles, is author of the book “31 Steps To Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles.”
He posted a blog on his website about Blackwells Live Auction. It is posted here, or can be read on his website www.31corp.com

Wouldn’t it be a breath of fresh air to return to the days of olde, when you were present at a live auction, bidding on an item by holding up your paddle, and the selling fees were reasonable?

If Mr. Donald Karr has his way, this just might be possible, but with a modern twist.

Yesterday, I was privileged to speak with Donald Karr, founder of Blackwells Live Auction, for about 2 hours, and they were two of the most rewarding hours I have spent in many years. At 73 years of age, Karr is as young and optimistic as they get, and he wants to make it possible for individuals to still make money for themselves, as they sell their treasures, without giving a large chunk of what they make to the ones that least deserve that large chunk –the auction houses.

Yes, auction houses do provide a wonderful service for people who want to depose of their treasures and belongings, but over the last twenty-five years, the auction houses have truly gotten greedy. When I started in this business, as I have shared with you before, the auction fees were 5%. That was only to the seller, and there were no fees to the buyer. What a far a cry 5% is from where we are today with some auction houses, particularly those whose fees reach 50% when you include the commissions of both the buyer and the seller.

Mr Karr wants to return us to the Days of Olde in a sense, and has introduced a new concept in online auctions, Blackwell Live Auction. A resident of north Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Karr has been a long time Antique and Jewelry dealer well aware of the auction business and the changes that have occurred in the industry. So why am I so excited about this, and why is this auction different than any others? For starters, you will be a live participant at each auction you are a buyer in. Your name will be raised on a bidding paddle as you bid, and if you are the fortunate winner, you will know it immediately.

But it gets even better than that, and you’ll know why each one of us might be praying for Mr. Karr’s success. The news that landed me on my behind after the chair fell out from under me was this: THE TOTAL FEES FOR ANY ONE TRANSACTION WILL BE A MERE $2.99! Yes, I did say $2.99. You might want to pick yourself up off the floor and check out this website for yourself, because in addition to this great news, Blackwells Live Auction will be auctioning off $100 bills every day with no reserve in order to get people acquainted with the auction. Brilliant!

Let’s see what this new concept in online auctions really means to you and me as sellers. Selling a $5,000 item at the regular auction, the seller will bid 20% less than he was willing to bid on your item because of the 20% buyers fee. On the $4,000 that he did bid, you will pay $1,000 in commission. That means that your item, that should have sold for $5000, now is selling for $4000 of which you will only receive $3,000. Not so good you say? Now le’ts do the same thing if you sold it with Mr. Karr at Blackwells. Your bidder bids $5,000 because there is no buyers premium, and you only pay $2.99 for the commission. You net $4,997.01. My math might not be very good, but $3,000 verses $4,997.01 means that you’ve just made an additional $1997.01 — 66% more than if you had sold it at the regular auction. Now that is something to get excited about.

I have some hesitations about the technical parts of this venture, but Mr. Karr has assured me that every question I asked had been covered. I pray he will have enough server space, because I can already hear the thunder of the approaching stampede just around the bend.

I am always looking out for you and the 31 Club and will continue to bring you newsworthy economic and industry news as I see it.
For more information on the 31 Club, visit their website at www.31corp.com.

Feb

8

Blackwells Live Auction.Com received this post:
A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL site folks. As a computer graphics specialist (but NOT a programmer), I can say that in my 32 hour long search for a non-Feebay site, YOURS is the most beautiful by far. Well done, guys & gals, and I hope your boss gives ya a pat on the back (and maybe a bonus in the paycheck) for a job well done! () () () clapping () () ()


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