Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consulting

The November Living Room session highlighted the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for customers to learn about ethical and sustainable jewelry. Our guests discussed the challenges and rewards of being transparent about sourcing practices and educating consumers. Emily Phillippy of Emily Chelsea Jewelry noted that they don't work with materials that can't be traced to a responsible source and are completely transparent with customers about it. Even though it may cost them a few sales, it is ultimately worth it as some customers come back because they resonate with these values. Our speakers agreed that by being honest and transparent about sourcing practices, retailers can build trust with their customers. For instance, sharing information about the origin of gemstones, the ethical sourcing of metals, and the working conditions of artisans can foster a deeper connection with customers. If you need advice on how to approach some of those conversations with you customers, book an advisory call with us via our website: https://buff.ly/4cj1aiL.

Did you know that CMC has hosted over 34 Living Room sessions with over 88 guest speakers during the last five years? The series has given us an amazing opportunity to share our insights as well as stay connected with the community, and today we’re bringing the project to a close. As a special bonus, everyone that attends the session live will receive the code to watch, "Manos que hablan / Talking Hands" - a film we learned about the making of during a Living Room held in April 2023. You have to be there to get the code! We’re very grateful to everyone who supported, participated in, and attended our Living Room sessions and are hoping to see you all one more time today at noon ET/9 am PT! Please, join us to reminisce about some of our favorite sessions and reflect on what we learned together. Register for our very Last Living room here: https://buff.ly/3ZfZp0v.

**Invaluable Opportunity** Get exclusive access to this documentary when you register and attend our last Living Room session, tomorrow 12/06 at noon ET/9am PT. Filmmaker Camilo Gomez Duran has generously given our participants free access to the full movie in English - Manos Que Hablan - “Talking Hands: About Mining and Ancestral Jewelry in Chocó, Colombia” Register now! https://lnkd.in/dvJcPH-t

During our November Living Room session, we discussed how to talk about sustainability with customers from the retail jeweler perspective with our guests Emily Phillippy of Emily Chelsea Jewelry, Melissa Dusenberry of All the Brilliants, and Robert Goodman of Robert Goodman Jewelers. Consumers are increasingly aware of ethical and sustainable issues, and they are seeking out brands that align with their values. This shift in consumer behavior has led to a growing demand for responsibly made jewelry and transparency from businesses. When talking about changes in consumer awareness, our speakers noted that customers’ attention has lately turned from "blood diamonds" to lab grown diamonds. Even though the production of lab grown diamonds is not always or not necessarily as "green" as some people assume, folks' interest in them demonstrates growing consumer awareness and opens up space for more conversation about responsible jewelry. To learn more about sustainable jewelry practices, please subscribe to our newsletter via our website - https://buff.ly/46NaqZo .

You’re invited to join us for a special participatory session culminating 5 years of Living Rooms this Friday, December 6 at noon ET/9 am PT! During our very last Living Room, we plan to celebrate our community and reflect on what we learned together. The CMC team will share their favorite sessions and the highlights they most remember. We’d love for you, our community, to chime in and share some of your favorite sessions, what takeaways stood out to you, what topics opened your eyes, which guests inspired “aha!” moments and how we feel about the jewelry industry at the dawn of a new year. Please, sign up for the session via our website: https://buff.ly/3ZfZp0v .

Make your responsible sourcing practices official and authenticate your sustainability claims and transparency with help from us. If you want to build up your responsible sourcing know-how and learn skills for your entire business, CMC's Specialty Services will do the trick! - Sourcing Policy - Guiding Principles Statement - Supplier Interview Call - Communications Audit Sometimes you might need specific advice or a custom document, help talking to a supplier, understanding opaque claims and more - that’s what these Specialty Services do. They help you deliver on your promises. Learn more on our website: https://buff.ly/4e1OE8d

According to the results of the survey our guests filled out during the last Living Room, we decided to have a special wrap-up session to celebrate the community on Friday, December 6 at noon ET/9 am PT! We invite you to join our very last Living Room to reflect on what we learned together as well as share the most memorable moments from our sessions. We're curious what your favorites sessions were! Please, register for this Living Room to join our community one more time! https://buff.ly/3ZfZp0v

Sign-up! The Essentials Consulting Package: The Responsible Sourcing Program for Values-driven Jewelers. The Essentials Package develops the groundwork and gives direction and purpose to your responsible sourcing practices. Our team is ready to help you and meet you wherever you are. Sign-up: https://buff.ly/3QU0w2W If you're just starting out and need a general overview of the main issues and how to go about starting with the basics, we have you covered. If you have more experience or want to dive a little deeper, this package will move you towards greater impact, more systematized results, and methods to evolve with your business. The sessions build upon each other so that over time you can achieve greater levels of ethical systems as your business grows.

Community is needed more than ever! Join us today at noon ET/9 am PT, CMC's November Living Room session will discuss: How to talk about sustainability with customers - the retail jeweler experience. Our guests Emily Phillippy, of Emily Chelsea Jewelry, Melissa Dusenberry of All the Brilliants, and Robert Goodman of Robert Goodman Jewelers, will provide actionable tips for retailers and brands looking to have better conversations about sustainable jewelry practices with their customers. - How to discern when to insert responsible sourcing topics into the conversation and how much to share - Preparing for some frequently asked about topics so you’re ready for conversations as they arise - Dispelling misconceptions and myths - How to prepare the sales team Join us, register now - https://buff.ly/3ZfZp0v

How can retailers best convey some of the complex issues surrounding jewelry materials and production without dampening the joy of folks buying for special occasions? You’ll find answers to this question during our next Living Room session on November 8th at noon ET/9 am PT. Register - https://buff.ly/3ZfZp0v Robert and Rose Marie Goodman, of Robert Goodman Jewelers, will provide actionable tips for retailers and brands looking to have better conversations about sustainable jewelry practices with their customers. They share their experience in engaging with clients via their brick-and-mortar store and how they are encouraging designers to become more sustainable.