U.S. Retailers Happy with Indo-US Conference

U.S. retailers at the Indo-U.S. Business Development Relationship Conference in Mumbai were very happy with the outcome of the conference. Retailers widely believed that the experience of the conference exceeded their expectations.

Michael C. Balerin, executive director of Leading Jewelers of the World (LJW), noted that he knew of two LJW companies that had come without intending to buy, as they had done their ordering for the coming season, but which both ended up placing orders in the course of the factory visits.

That the visual experience made a difference was amply evident from the reactions of most retailers present.

“People are afraid of what they don’t know,” said Odie de Lyrot of Cardow Jewelers who is herself an oft visitor to India.

“It is difficult when you are in the United States to sit at a computer enter ‘Indian Jewellery’ into Google and then do business on the basis of what is thrown up. The Indian industry is very accessible and also very professional. I would recommend a visit to everyone,” de Lyrot said.

“This conference was organized to bring our customers to our doors, to give them an exposure to manufacturing facilities and industry here and to hold meaningful discussions so that we can improve our product and industry,” Vasant Mehta, vice chairman of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said.

“It is not merely about buying but about the future of the business. About how to do the next round of buying more effectively. We are here to create a long term win-win situation,” Rick Bannerot of R&B Partners said. The GJEPC organizes the conference in association with R&B Partners.  

Peter Engel, president of Fred Meyer Jewellers Inc, also said that the experience of visiting factories was extremely useful.

“When we give orders and ask for them to be fulfilled in say a week we don’t always appreciate what goes into the making of jewelry. Perhaps we have to plan better from our side,” Engel said.