FAYES DIAMOND MINE HONORED WITH NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Faye Rodgers, store owner, accepted the prestigious title of Best Family Diamond Store on behalf of Fayes Diamond Mine in Clinton, AR, at the conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) held recently in Colorado Springs, CO. Fayes Diamond Mine was elected for this national award from a pool of more than 800 IJO retail jeweler members. The criteria for this honor was verification of being the IJO member store doing the largest volume of diamond sales, including loose diamonds, bridal and diamond jewelry, based on the percentage of those diamond sales to overall annual sales.

Rodgers, her daughter Lori Blagg, and the Faye's Diamond Mine staff are considered the diamond experts in the Clinton area. We've worked very hard to keep up with the latest in education in all aspects of jewelry, but especially regarding diamonds, Rodgers said. We live in a very rural area there are only 2200 people in our little town so to receive an award like this is huge for us! Were absolutely thrilled, and so very, very proud.

As far as industry credentials, Rodgers had received her Accredited Jewelry Professional title from the Gemological Institute of America. In addition to the AJA, Blagg was awarded the GIA Graduate Gemologist title, and also the esteemed title of Master Graduate Gemologist Appraiser from IJO the highest awarded by the organization.

Faye's Diamond Mine has utterly astounded the entire IJO membership with their accomplishments, says IJO Chairman Richard Swetz. Their knowledge, their integrity and their pure dedication have totally set them apart from other retail jewelers, even the huge stores. I'm further impressed that Faye decided to start her business at the age of 50 with absolutely no background in jewelry, and look at how far she's taken her dream. I'm proud to know her, and also proud to have Faye's Diamond Mine as part of the IJO family.

I have to say this is quite a tribute, added Blagg. We've been so proud of our store's success, but to have a distinction of this magnitude is just mind-boggling. We go to Antwerp every year and we strive to always be the best, and to be honored in this way means the world to us.