JNA Awards 2018 introduces new retail category, brings back one manufacturer of the year category

Organised by UBM Asia, the JNA Awards serves as the industry benchmark of excellence. It champions best business practices in the jewellery and gemstone trade by honouring companies and individuals that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovative thinking, and sustainable and socially responsible strategies, with a focus on their contributions in Asia. The recipients of the JNA Awards are industry stakeholders whose ideas and actions are making a tangible and positive impact on their communities and sector.

Reflecting the evolving nature of the jewellery industry and the pressing demand for creativity and agility to stay ahead in a rapidly changing marketplace, the JNA Awards will have two Retailer of the Year awards and will reintroduce the Manufacturer of the Year – Cutting & Polishing category this year.

The awards categories for 2018 are as follows:

1. Lifetime Achievement Award (nominated by the organiser)
2. Brand of the Year – Retail    
3. eSupplier of the Year
4. Industry Innovation of the Year (business model, management process, marketing or branding initiatives, manufacturing process, product development, technology, gemmological research, etc.)
5. Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery
6. Manufacturer of the Year – Cutting & Polishing
7. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN, Japan & Korea
8. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Greater China         
9. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India
10. Retailer of the Year (500 outlets and below)
11. Retailer of the Year (501 outlets and above) 
12. Sustainability Initiative of the Year
13. Young Entrepreneur of the Year (age 40 and below)

Commenting on the JNA Awards' seventh edition, Wolfram Diener, Senior Vice President of UBM Asia, said, "Celebrating the successes of innovative enterprises and individuals has been central to the JNA Awards since its inception, and this has never been more important than in today's constantly evolving and highly competitive industry landscape. We are honoured to recognise those who have the audacity to break rules, challenge the status quo and do things differently to stay on top of trends, drive business growth and embrace sustainability practices. We look forward to hearing more inspiring stories in this year's JNA Awards."

Letitia Chow, Chairperson of the JNA Awards, Founder of JNA and Director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia, added, "We always strive to involve enterprises of different scales and nature that have positively impacted the industry with the awards programme. Retailers are at the forefront of the industry; they act as a conduit between the end-customer and the manufacturer, and can help propel the whole industry even further. By splitting the Retailer of the Year Award into two categories, we are able to celebrate outstanding retailers of all scales.  

"And by reintroducing the Manufacturer of the Year – Cutting & Polishing category, we are honouring diamond and gemstone manufacturers who are open to game-changing ideas and technologies that can enhance customer service, improve productivity and boost overall efficiency. This has significant implications for the jewellery industry, particularly in light of changing customer demands and needs in terms of product design, quality and craftsmanship."

Visit the newly revamped awards website here to register and review the full list of categories, awards criteria and rules of entry. The online entry submission process will commence in early March and conclude in late April.

The JNA Awards 2018 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook (CTF) and Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) together with the KGK Group, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND) serving as Honoured Partners.

For more information, visit http://www.JNAawards.com/ or contact: 

JNA Awards Marketing
UBM Asia (Hong Kong) 
+852 2516-2184
[email protected]

Notes for Editors:

1. About the Headline Partner

1.1 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.chowtaifook.com)

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group") was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011.

Founded in 1929, the iconic brand "Chow Tai Fook" of the Group has been widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and renowned for product design, quality and value. The legacies of the Group and its iconic brand are rooted in innovation, craftsmanship and heritage. The Group also encompasses other jewellery brands including Hearts On Fire, MONOLOGUE and SOINLOVE.

The Group's commitment to sustainability is anchored in its "Smart+" initiatives which have been in place to promote innovation surrounding its business, people and culture. Another asset underpinning its sustainability is a sophisticated vertically integrated business model which supports the Group in fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain. With an extensive retail network in Greater China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, and a fast-growing e-commerce business, the Group is capable of implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies and achieving omni-channel retailing.

1.2 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange in China and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.

Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

2. About the Honoured Partners

2.1 KGK Group (www.kgkgroup.com)

The KGK Group was founded in 1905 by Kesrimal Kothari and Ghisilal Kothari of Jaipur (India), with the humble task of trading gemstones between India and Burma. With a global presence across 19 countries today, the privately held group has evolved into one of the most preferred brands in the gemstone and jewellery industry, with a vertically integrated operation that spans the entire supply chain from mines to brands. KGK is one of the few conglomerates covering the entire spectrum of mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery for over a century. KGK Group has a resilient team of 12,000 employees with operations and offices in Asia, Australia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Having achieved an impeccable reputation in the gemstone, diamond and jewellery trade, the group has recently diversified into real estate.

2.2 The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange (http://en.gdgje.com/)

Founded in February 2016, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is one of two provincial jewellery trading platforms authorised by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.

Aggregating resources from key industrial hubs across Guangdong including Guangzhou, Pingzhou of Foshan, Yangmei of Jieyang and Sihui of Zhaoqing, the Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange joins hands with world-renowned jewellery brands in setting up an international supply chain integrated service platform that offers a secure and convenient trading experience for domestic and overseas jewellers.

The Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange is set to benefit China's jewellery industry in a variety of areas, such as the promotion of a healthier and more balanced international division of labour, foreign trade development, cross-border resource management and consumer market growth. As part of this effort, it will take full advantage of the base and influence of Guangdong's jewellery industry and the benefits stemming from the Belt and Road Initiative to establish linkages with national and global gemstone and jewellery markets.

2.3 The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (www.gdland.com.hk)

The Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND), with its headquarters in Hong Kong, is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and is a subsidiary of GDH Limited, which is Guangdong Province's largest conglomerate operating outside Mainland China.

The principal business of GDLAND is property development and investment, including but not limited to the development and operational management of the innovative commercial real estate, urban complex and industrial business complex. As the strategic arm of GDH Limited, GDLAND engages in the business development of commercial real estate, as well as urban and industrial complex projects.

GDLAND's flagship project, namely the "Buxin Project," is planned to become the biggest and most advanced jewellery mart in the world, including a large-scale jewellery trading and exhibition centre along with other facilities, with a lot size of over 87,000 square metres and a construction scale (floor area) that is projected to exceed 700,000 square metres. The Buxin Project, which is located in the Buxin area of Luohu district in Central Shenzhen, close to the Shuibei Gold and Jewellery Base, is expected to develop the area into one of the most influential gold and jewellery trading and exchange platforms in China and around the world.

3. About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest events organiser in Asia, India and Southeast Asia. It is also the leading commercial organiser in China. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 36 offices and over 1,600 employees.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 11 market sectors with over 290 events, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock online products for over 2 million quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. It provides a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 12 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Guzhen and Shenzhen, where we organise 90 events. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with 70 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai organise over 20 events every year across the country.

UBM Asia was presented with 'Asia's Most Reliable Trade Show Organizer Award' in Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies Awards (HKMVCA) 2017.

4. About JNA (www.jewellerynewsasia.com)

JNA is the flagship market intelligence platform of UBM Asia's Jewellery Group. First published in 1983, the title is the leader in providing up-to-date international jewellery trade news with an Asian insight. It features original, in-depth reports by experienced journalists covering the latest developments in the diamond, pearl, coloured gemstone, jewellery manufacturing, and equipment and supplies sectors.

SOURCE JNA Awards