IGI has been selected for membership in the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO), joining more than 1,000 of the most successful jewelry businesses in the USA. Prospective members must meet standards set forth in the RJO Code of Conduct pertaining to reputability, subject matter expertise, provision of education, truthfulness, integrity and meeting financial commitments.
Educational Integration
IGI plans to integrate with RJO through educational and buying show seminars and overseas branding trips. These offerings will provide retailers with new ideas to take back and implement in their stores. RJO CEO Sarah Streb commented:
We are looking forward to this new partnership with IGI and what they will offer to the RJO membership. IGI’s expertise and shared educational passion pairs well with the goals of our organization. We are excited to welcome them to the RJO family.
50 Year History
The RJO has served as a knowledgeable network that seeks to share information and refine the industry’s most creative ideas for more than 50 years. The Organization has made education a priority and attributes its success from the commitment of its members. IGI North American President sees cooperation with RJO as a means to provide and expand gemological expertise among professionals.
IGI is eager to further establish relationships with additional independent retailers and vendors and introduce its diverse services to the RJO community. As a pioneer in gemological grading, the Institute is honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with professional peers and share its best practices.
About IGI
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has 20 laboratories and 14 education facilities in major diamond and jewelry centers around the world. For 45 years, IGI has provided the fine jewelry community and consumers with a broad range of services including natural and laboratory grown diamond reports, colored stone grading and origin reports, as well as jewelry identification and appraisal reports. With the increase of lab grown diamonds in the marketplace, IGI screens millions of natural and lab grown diamonds in order for the industry and consumers to receive the product they expect. Regardless of location or marketplace, an authentic IGI Laboratory Report is the common language of trust and confidence in the gemological world.
About RJO
In 1966, RJO was founded by a small group of independent jewelers who joined together to command better vendor prices by buying collectively. Since that time, RJO has added hundreds of members, essential support programs and marketing services while remaining owned by its jeweler members. For more information, visit www.rjomembers.com.
