Enjewel becomes the official e-commerce site for prestigious group of jewelers and designers

Enjewel, the first and only online clicks and bricks fine jewelry portal launched in October 2000, today announced an exclusive strategic alliance with the prestigious Couture Jewelry Collection and Conference. Enjewel (www.enjewel.com) becomes the official e-commerce site of the Couture Collection, and will be linked from their website www.couturejeweler.com and from customized Couture Internet catalogs present on the web sites of participating Couture retailers nationwide who are also members of Enjewel.
Enjewel has been heralded as a bold, innovative approach to e-commerce that merges the common interests of jewelry retailers and designers/manufacturers within the jewelry industry. It efficiently combines the power and facility of the Internet, the quality and craftsmanship of authorized brands of jewelry and watches, and the special care, service and connoisseurship offered by fine local retailers.
Sheldon Ginsberg, CEO and President of Enjewel said “This is an extremely significant alliance for Enjewel. With close to 400 jewelry companies as Enjewel members, many of which are also associated with Couture, this relationship seemed a natural fit. This marks the first time we've linked with a company outside Enjewel's affiliate mambership.” Mr. Ginsberg continued by saying that “Enjewel will develop a strong presence at Couture conferences and events and will be able to offer members valuable information and analysis on the evolving online jewelry consumer.”
The Couture Collection, produced by VNU Business Media and Bill Communications Inc., is well established as the premiere trade event for the finest quality and upscale jewelry retailers and designers in the world. Among many of its high profile participants, Couture is also allied with fine jewelers also belonging to Enjewel including Lux, Bond and Green, Bachendorf's, London Jewelers, The Diamond Cellar, Fortunoff, Hyde Park and Carl Greve Jewelers as well as Chopard, Robert Lee Morris, Charriol, John Hardy Collection and Rudolf Erdel.
Howard Hauben, Senior Vice President of Internet Strategy and Development of Couture Collection parent VNU EMedia/Bill Communications was ebullient in his praise for the Enjewel site. “Enjewel and the Couture Collection will lead the high quality jewelry, gem and watch businesses into the future of e-commerce,” he said at the time of the announcement. “When I learned about the Enjewel model, it seemed to so clearly address many of the needs and goals of our affiliate businesses. The Couture Collection brings together the finest jewelers, manufacturers and designers in a parallel manner to the bricks and clicks model that Enjewel has successfully created. When the site launched and I saw the ease of use and high level of customer service, I was thrilled to finally make this happen. Enjewel will play a critical role in offering our participants a viable e-commerce solution and we are most pleased to offer this relationship to our customers as a value-added service.”
“This alliance is a powerful link for what is evolving into the only successful model for jewelry e-tailing,” said Andy Johnson, CEO of the Diamond Cellar. “To market luxury you have to have credibility. Credibility does not arrive overnight and the combination of powerful retail brands and a comfortable e-commerce experience like Enjewel is anticipated to increase sales for all participants in the supply chain.”
“This is another great step for the future of branded jewelry,” said Steven Lagos of LAGOS. “Enjewel and Couture are now providing the luxury consumer more and better ways to buy with confidence.”

From Enjewel's Press Release
New York, October 2000