Our Namibian Success Story + Your Chance to Join the Movement
What an incredible journey our Namibian adventure turned out to be! It all kicked off with a networking day in Swakopmund that honestly exceeded every expectation I had. This wasn’t just any ordinary industry gathering – it was sponsored by Cape Precious Metals in collaboration with Cape Tools, Jewellers’ Network, West Jewel, ourselves, and Spectrometer Technologies, and the energy was absolutely electric.
You know what struck me most? Watching our industry professionals genuinely embrace each other, openly share ideas, and communicate without that usual protective wall of “I can’t tell you that – it’s a trade secret!” It was refreshing and, honestly, quite moving to see.
This openness created a welcoming atmosphere that allowed us to connect with new dealers and jewellers we’d never met before. More importantly, it provided the perfect platform to address those burning gem-related questions that people often harbour but rarely get the chance to ask.
The Friday meet and greet set the perfect tone for Saturday’s symposium, and I have to say, I was genuinely thrilled with both the turnout and the quality of questions we received. There’s something truly special about getting everyone together in one room. It creates a dynamic where questions are answered on the spot, misconceptions are cleared up immediately, and everyone leaves smarter than when they arrived.
Now, I want to be completely transparent here – we certainly don’t claim to have all the answers. When someone asks us something that stumps not just us but everyone in the room, we don’t pretend otherwise. Instead, we commit to doing the research and getting back with the correct information. This approach means we’re all learning together, and I’ve discovered something wonderful: the more I teach, the more my own knowledge grows. It’s like a beautiful cycle of continuous learning.
Speaking of learning, I want to circle back to that previous email we sent featuring Hayley Henning’s article “Train to Gain: How Gemstone Education Directly Impacts Retail Revenue.” If you missed it, you can read it here. It really drives home why education in our industry isn’t just nice to have, it’s absolutely essential for business success.
Here’s something that keeps me up at night: the absolutely horrendous statements we hear that clients have been told by people in our own industry. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t malicious lies: they’re born out of pure ignorance, but the damage is real. The worst part is that clients are becoming increasingly aware when they’re being fed incorrect information, and I can guarantee you they won’t be returning to those jewellers. In today’s world, with information literally at our fingertips, there’s simply no excuse for this level of ignorance in our industry.
This is exactly why we’re exploring the possibility of bringing our educational mission closer to home. We’re considering hosting one-day symposiums in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg – though the final decision will depend entirely on how much interest we generate. Our Namibian symposium covered the fundamentals that every professional should know: basic gem identification, coloured stone grading, and that increasingly important topic of lab-grown versus natural diamonds.
The goal is simple: arm our industry professionals with the knowledge they need to serve their clients confidently and correctly. Because when we all succeed, our entire industry wins.
So here’s where I need your help: we’ve put together a poll to gauge interest in a Cape Town symposium covering these essential topics. Your response will help us determine not just whether to move forward, but how to structure these events to serve you best.