JAA NIAC expresses extreme disappointment

The Jewellers Association of Australia’s (JAA) National Industry Advisory Council (NIAC), which advises the JAA Board, has expressed its extreme disappointment with Jeweller magazine.
 
The 17 NIAC councillors represent all states and sectors of the industry.
The unanimous resolution was in response to the article criticising the JAA in the Jeweller online newsletter on 17 May 2016, What does the JAA stand for?
All councillors considered the article to be unreasonable and not in the constructive spirit that should be expected from an industry endorsed publication.
Claims that the JAA had not supported the industry over the Alex & Ani/Pandora issue were ill informed and unreasonable.
The JAA consulted the buying groups and ascertained that a formal ACCC investigation was already underway. JAA Board member and Nationwide Managing Director, Colin Pocklington, advised JAA Executive Director, Amanda Hunter that he had been contacted by ACCC investigators and had provided detailed information on the industry, the issues and reasons for complaints by Nationwide Jewellers’ members.
As a thorough ACCC investigation was already underway, and the JAA had not received any complaints from members, it was decided there was no need for the JAA to also contact the ACCC.
Jeweller did not contact the JAA on the matter to investigate its involvement.
Given the JAA did not receive any complaints from members, and the ACCC investigation was already in progress, the attitude of Jeweller is difficult to understand.
The NIAC were also disappointed that Jeweller’s criticisms of the JAA failed to recognise the numerous projects and initiatives that the JAA has undertaken in the last few years, including:

• Implementation of the Code of Conduct and action taken on complaints received
• Handling in excess of 200 consumer complaints and enquiries in the last 6 months
• Obtaining ACCC approval for, and developing, a retail tenancy database for the southern states
• Submissions and representation to government at State and Federal level on lease reform measures to assist jewellers to reduce rental costs
• Introducing numerous additional member benefits over the last 12 months including online sales training

A more comprehensive list of recent and current JAA initiatives is available on the JAA website.
Several of these projects are expected to result in an increase in membership.
The JAA was not approached by Jeweller for comment on any of the issues raised in the article.
As a result of the article several key industry participants are now questioning their continued support for Jeweller.