Pandora Australia president David Allen

Facilitate a palette of trade show options that promote the development of a diverse, robust, efficient and responsible trade in jewellery, as well as in related jewellery components, equipment and services. With this proposed mission statement on Wednesday, 8th May, the Jewellery Trade Commission, an authority belonging to CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation which held its 2013 Annual Meeting in Tel Aviv, officially established itself in the Israeli capital.

Participants were provided a presentation by the Commission President and Executive Director of Fiera di Vicenza, Corrado Facco , in which he described the mission of the new body that provides a common forum for trade show organisers serving the jewellery sector.

The mission of the commission, Facco said, is to provide a common platform, and develop options by which the trade can be developed, while upholding the ethics of CIBJO, which include Corporate Social Responsibility, disclosure and fair trade.

"In many respect the new Trade Show Commission is a networking body. It provides us with a recognised forum in which we discuss common issues, and, if possible, develop projects that will serve all of its members," Mr. Facco said. "It also will provide our a community with a collective structure in which we can sit down and talk to members of the jewellery industry - where ideas can be raised, grievances aired and  troubleshooting initiated."

"As we have been very careful to emphasise, the Trade Show Commission is no way intended to influence the spirit of fair competition that exists between the various trade show organisations. There is absolutely no intention to create a monolithic organisation that will dictate policy" he stated.

Fiera di Vicenza's commitment has been confirmed by its newly-elected President, Paolo Mantovani , for whom intervening in educating and sensibilising the entire international jewellery production industry on topics of transparency and ethicality is absolutely fundamental.

Potential trade show members have been contacted ahead of the congress, including representatives of Fiera di Vicenza, IBGM, Russia's Restec, the Armenian trade show and the Bangkok trade show. In addition, the organisers of the Hong Kong Gems and Jewellery Fairs, HKTDC, said that they would be willing to serve as observers, while Dubai also pledged its support.

Representing 7.4 per cent of total group revenue was Australia, which reported DKK148 million (A$26 million) in sales, an increase of 19 per cent in local currency compared with Q1 2012. Like-for-like (same store) sales for the brand’s concept stores also increased by almost 16 per cent from the previous year.

Pandora Australia president David Allen said that the region’s strong performance – which followed a successful Q4 2012 – was primarily driven by both its Valentine’s Day range and accompanying marketing campaign as well as the launch of a new collection in March.

“Both of these collections were commercially very strong, performed exceptionally well and were positively received by both our partners and our consumers,” Allen explained.

Junior Achievement wants kids to learn money management

You know that shiny hot rod or new pair of shoes you just had to have but couldn't really afford? Well be careful, your spending habits could pass down to your kids. Junior Achievement of the Heartland is pushing parents to open up about money management and they have the programs to make the process a little easier.

Do you ever feel like as soon as that paycheck comes your money's burning a whole in your pocket? Well you're not alone and while splurging every once in awhile is okay, Junior Achievement of the Heartland president Barbara VenHorst said impulse spending could get you in trouble

"It's really easy to get off the beaten path and be spending money in a way that you shouldn't be. It's really hard to learn that in the real world because it has really bad consequences" VenHorst said.

She said kids tend to mirror those spending choices and in a struggling economy the younger generation is having doubts. VenHorst said in a recent Junior Achievement poll only 56 percent of kids thought they would be able to make more than their parents.

"Our country has been based on the idea that every generation is going to be in better financial shape than the one before them so when slightly more than half think that's the case, it's a sad direction we're headed." VenHorst said.

But you can help kids stay on track. Junior Achievement offers online programs to show the ins and out's of money management.

 "Habits are hard to break and if you can get good habits started when they're young it's going to make life so much easier" VenHorst said.

Free Shoes Handed Out to Those in Need

Shoes of every kind were in piles on the floor at a shelter in downtown Reno Saturday.

Some of those looking for shoes live outside, others in shelters, and some have a place to live but just need some free footwear to get by in a bad economy.

Ray Roney found shoes for his fiance's son.

"It means a lot," he said.

It's especially true since Roney says he, his fiance and her son are living in a shelter right now. He said he can't find work and will take anything.

For some, walking down the pathway to a steady paycheck starts here. One individual couldn't afford steel-toed boots in order to work, according to Brian Williams who created Think Kindness.

Think Kindness collected the shoes from throughout the community for the event.

Williams estimated at least three-hundred pairs of shoes were handed out.