Ethics Articles

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Friday, 9th November 2007 @ 7:09 PM

In March, 2007, I traveled to Turkey, where I attended the Istanbul Jewelry Show. There I met a diamond dealer, the president of a large firm with a large booth. He was the brother of a personal friend and had been in the diamond industry for many years. His primary business was the Russian market, the fabulously rich oligarchy which has a large appetite for bling. The larger, the better. "How much do conflict diamonds still enter the supply chain?" I asked. "A huge a... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Wednesday, 17th October 2007 @ 9:57 PM

A Google search for "fair trade jewelry" will bring up numerous companies, many of which sell ethnic jewelry produced in small villages in the developing world. The concept draws the socially responsible shopper, yet the third party labeling organization, Fair Labeling Organization (FLO) - of which Transfair USA is a member - does not currently list jewelry. Apart from that, some large players in the mainstream jewelry industry are beginning to tout concepts such as "fair trade diamo... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Wednesday, 17th October 2007 @ 9:50 PM

In 2006, Carmen Iezzi, was named executive director of the Fair Trade Federation, which represents more than 250 fair trade businesses in North America. An Alumni of American University, she knew she had an important and significant job to do. She envisioned her role as the youngest person there; to lead the group with fresh eyes and new energy, working towards an important cause during a key time of growth. I conducted this interview with her over the telephone and through email... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 6:42 PM

I conducted this interview with Steve D'Esposito: MC: Given EARTHWORKS' highly charged "Dirty Gold" campaign which many perceived as hostile to the jewelry industry, how it is now that you have now coalesced support to sponsor this jewelry summit? Can you outline, briefly, what led you to this position and the role of the Madison Dialogue? SD: That's a misperception. The campaign calls for "No Dirty Gold." It's not a campaign against gold. It�... more...

Business » Ethics | By Obinna Heche @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 12:25 PM

You wanted to have that second cup of coffee from your favorite mug and you will only be a few minutes late. Whats the big deal. It is a big deal to be late by five minutes or an hour. When you are late for work, every minute counts. Each minute missed effects the flow of a business. Businesses run on a schedule to prevent conflict and to insure that everything runs smoothly. When an employee is late it automatically alters the schedule and the days events. An example of this is a person... more...

Business » Ethics | By Obinna Heche @ Tuesday, 9th October 2007 @ 3:07 PM

You wanted to have that second cup of coffee from your favorite mug and you will only be a few minutes late. Whats the big deal. It is a big deal to be late by five minutes or an hour. When you are late for work, every minute counts. Each minute missed effects the flow of a business. Businesses run on a schedule to prevent conflict and to insure that everything runs smoothly. When an employee is late it automatically alters the schedule and the days events. An example of this is a person... more...

Business » Ethics | By Obinna Heche @ Tuesday, 9th October 2007 @ 2:19 PM

Working in a stockroom can be a dirty job and someday you hope that your efforts will be noticed and you will get the chance to prove what you can with a promotion into a supervisors role. However, if supervisors watching the operation see everyone dressed for the part of throwing freight around the back room, they will generally place them all in the same category. Working harder is one way to get promoted but having someone who matters notice your extra work can take a long time and may... more...

Business » Ethics | By Dave Origano @ Tuesday, 9th October 2007 @ 2:58 AM

Have you heard the phrase fake it until you make it? It's something which is increasingly common among business owners, especially on the internet or in direct mail. The basic idea is someone sells you a program or course teaching you how they made millions- only they haven't yet made the millions, they hope to do so by selling thousands of copies of the course they sold you. They were lying about being rich to begin with, but if all goes to plan they'll get rich in the end. Odd h... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Monday, 3rd September 2007 @ 4:22 AM

Laurens Mare is CEO of the South African Jewelry Counsel. The interview was conducted by Marc Choyt. Through the nonprofit organization, Vukani-Ubuntu, you have created a wonderful model that trains economically disadvantaged people from townships into the jewelry trade. Let's start with what year you were founded and how many people are involved in your program now? This started in 1999. I joined Demos Takoulas (current CEO) in late 1999. At that stage there was just one ... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Thursday, 23rd August 2007 @ 5:42 PM

We now have the opportunity to pro actively address the shadow, or toxic side of the jewelry industry in a truthful way. The emotional trigger issues, such as mining, blood diamonds and a host of other concerns actually make our industry a very easy target. As jewelry designers and manufacturers, we can embrace this opportunity or we can continue to live in denial. If we choose the latter, we run the risk of unsympathetic people running full page ads in the New York Times, simplify... more...

Business » Ethics | By Richard Bliss @ Friday, 17th August 2007 @ 11:56 AM

It used to be the stolen kisses in the cleaning closet and the joint business trips, but today's tracking of illicit employee behavior has reached a new level of surveillance. Almost every communication and every message is tracked, recorded and cataloged by a company's IT department. Here are three things to watch out for if you are personalizing your work communications: Email - In the US, organizations own the email that their employees use to conduct work. They own all the c... more...

Business » Ethics | By Jim Corkern @ Monday, 16th July 2007 @ 3:44 PM

Mold is a serious problem, not only in homes, but also in the places where we work. Employers and landlords should take special care to make sure their properties are not infested with mold and they should do this not only because the value of their property will decrease as the infestation spreads. Also because anyone working or living in the property will suffer adverse health effects. All kinds of medical conditions can be attributed to mold: development of asthma, ... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Saturday, 30th June 2007 @ 4:50 PM

I just returned from the Jewelers' Circular Keystone (JCK) Show, the largest, most important jewelry trade event in the US. Apart from those who sought me out because of my press release, not one jeweler who walked by my booth even raised the issue of my banner which screamed out: FAIR TRADE, ECO FRIENDLY JEWELRY NOW. Typical, I think, was my conversation with a buyer who was a "major player." Her company is a house hold name. I asked one if she was interested Fair Tra... more...

Business » Ethics | By Marc Choyt @ Wednesday, 27th June 2007 @ 12:41 AM

"The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic." - Joseph Stalin "We've dodged the bullet," is the consensus opinion of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, according to Frank Dallahan. "A job well done," though, as the title of the opinion piece suggests, "The Gun Is Still Pointed at Us" by "arrogant" NGOs. Blood Diamonds got mediocre reviews and was not widely seen and has had no real effect on diamond purchases.... more...

Business » Ethics | By Adrian Adams @ Wednesday, 20th June 2007 @ 6:04 AM

With all the fuss kicked up about SPAM and junk emails today, online marketing today has become a sensitive and important issue in establishing a client base for any business owner and marketing companies. Interestingly enough, while the days of mass mail-outs are still not over, there is really nothing different about the way both modes of mass market advertising operate. It is not the deluge of information that has the consumer worried - rather, it is the unethical and dishonest practices of... more...

Business » Ethics | By Christopher Anderson @ Tuesday, 5th June 2007 @ 1:13 PM

One of the greatest fallacies pervading in the middle and low classes is the assumption that wealthy people have done something illegal or immoral or both to get the wealth that they possess. On the contrary. In general, rich people have found a way to create so much value for other people that other people are willing to give there money to the rich people for what ever service or commodity the rich people provide. If you truly want to be rich then you need to find a way to create a... more...

Business » Ethics | By Victor Epand @ Thursday, 24th May 2007 @ 1:13 PM

I work with a flash game development company. Recently we have made a few business deals, and are now venturing into previously uncharted territory for us, thank you gifts/notes. What, If anything is customary? We also had a contact that helped arrange the deals in the first place. What would be appropriate for him? The gifts are for two different groups. One who we recently signed a contract with, and one who helped us get said contract in the first place. Would it be appropriate to give them t... more...

Business » Ethics | By Linda Dipman @ Tuesday, 10th April 2007 @ 5:33 PM

A leprechaun frolicked from under the magnificent rainbow that caressed the once heavily laden rain soaked valley. A pot of gold lay beneath his feet and a smile paraded from his lips as a man tried with all of his might to catch the lively elf. His pursuit was quickly thwarted with the disappearance of the green man and the gold he guarded. So many people are easy targets to con artists who prey upon good and honest people. Victims are hard working people who toil and slave to build ... more...

Business » Ethics | By Arnold Hernandez @ Friday, 23rd March 2007 @ 10:13 AM

The California State Legislature has declared that advances in the science and technology have led to the development of new devices and techniques for the purpose of eavesdropping upon private communications and that the invasion of privacy resulting from the continual and increase use of such devices and techniques has created a serious threat to the free exercise of personal liberties and cannot be tolerated in a free and civilized society. The legislature intends to protect the right of pri... more...

Business » Ethics | By T J Madigan @ Thursday, 8th March 2007 @ 3:15 PM

A leading publisher in both print and online of trade specialist information, Business Monitor International (BMI) was established in 1984 with a global perspective. Its service is updated not just quarterly, monthly or weekly but even daily. They cover a wide range of issues such as political risk, financial status, macroeconomic performance, industry sectors and operational environment. Clients and subscribers of BMI in over 125 countries comprise of huge academe, institutions, corpora... more...