Diamond business needs a different model?
Are we able to adopt
a different business model?
Recently
Ronnie VanderLinden, President-IDMA asked a question to diamond business that Are
we able to adopt a different business model? Further inks, first, let us take a
quick look at who we are. The International Diamond Manufacturers Association
(IDMA) was established in 1946, shortly after World War II.
The
association was formed to help diamond manufacturers pick up the pieces in the
aftermath of this destructive war. In Amsterdam, where my family is originally
from, few of the Jewish cutters and traders returned from the Nazi death camps,
and sadly, the City of Diamonds never regained its former glory.
In
Antwerp, the situation was not much better, but due to its unique role as the
world’s rough diamond trading and distribution hub, the Scheldt City slowly but
surely was able to rebuild itself. In Ramat Gan, the budding diamond
manufacturing began exponential growth, and soon diamonds became a major and
vital export for the young state of Israel.
Here
in the US, and New York in particular, the industry and trade welcomed hundreds
of new diamantaires, many who had left their previous lives in Europe behind to
create a new life for themselves in the US. Shortly after, India started making
its mark, changing the industry forever.
Fast
forward, let us take a quick look at where we are now. I am not making a
comparison between those historical times and the current global health crisis
and the ensuing economic downturn. Throughout these past seven decades, IDMA
has been led by some of the industry’s most inspired and illustrious
diamantaires.
As
such, we are standing on the shoulders of giants. IDMA’s history, its past
leadership, and the current crisis continue to motivate us, the members of your
IDMA board, to examine IDMA’s mission and objectives, and in particular focus
on the added value that we wish and need to bring to our members, and
ultimately to the individual diamond manufacturer and trader.
Indeed,
IDMA’s “prime directive” has remained the same: to help our members create a
business environment in which manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, and
traders can grow and thrive.
During
the past months, the following question has been asked repetitiously: how can
we conduct our businesses successfully, at a time where traveling to most
places is almost impossible?
This, of course, for our global industry makes it
exceedingly difficult to do what we previously took for granted, such as
viewing merchandise, visiting clients, attending shows, on-hand seminars, and
so forth.
The
question itself indicates that we have no choice but effect changes in the
traditional ways our industry has conducted its business, 1: Are we able to
adopt a different business model? 2: Can we continue to buy and sell diamonds
without leaving our offices?
3:
Can we conduct our businesses in this environment and still buy and sell
confidently? The bigger question – and also make a profit? 4: Can we get a grip
on polished diamond price developments, knowing that the information offered to
us is reliable, transparent, and that those supplying us with the data can be
held accountable for its accuracy?
Our
Honorary IDMA President Jeffrey Fischer wrote this in his foreword in the
previous WINC: “The challenges confronting the diamond industry are many, A: Too
many players are mired in the past and vilify agents of change as the cause of
our difficulties; B: Too many kneel before those change-makers obediently.
C:
Too many rely on a singular price list and an absence (thus far) of on any
alternative the industry has found interesting enough to give a real chance,
resulting in an overabundance of newfound trading platforms; D: Producers
continue to drive manufacturers into buying beyond their legitimate needs,
regardless of stated policies to the contrary. And the list goes on…”
In
a recent Zoom meeting, initiated by IDMA, with diamond industry leaders
participating worldwide, IDMA hosted Mahiar Borhanjoo of Uni.Diamonds who
presented the firm’s newly formulated polished diamond price guide project.
UNI.Diamonds operates an “online ecosystem that connects between vendors and
buyers, securing the sale and safe delivery of polished diamonds around the
globe.”
Uni.Diamonds,
with the cooperation of two other companies, EZCalc and IDEX, is developing a
system that they claim will enable buyers, using a computer or a mobile device,
to conduct searches according to quality and price criteria. More information
on Uni’s exciting new project can be found online.
Of
course, IDMA has no financial or any other economic stake or interest in this
venture. However, we do believe that in response to the many conversations,
emails, and phone calls, we must help our members find solutions in what we
have called this “next normal.” We pledge we will continue to do so in the
future, too!
It
is important to note that IDMA, as an association, is a not-for-profit
organization that is funded by the – ever-dwindling – membership fees. All the
board members, and all the board members of its member associations, do their
work voluntarily, without any remuneration.
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