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To Doodle or Not To Doodle?

4 August 2014 admin 2 Comments

Do you doodle?

I do doodle!

According to the Wikipedia page about Doodles the term is:
"A doodle is an unfocused or unconscious drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes."

Although I love technology, I always have a notebook and pen with me. I never thought why I love to doodle when I am on the phone or in a meeting, but after reading an article about Mark Parker, Nike's CEO, I know why. And, I am convinced why you should doodle too.

The article "Nike CEO Mark Parker Shares His Secret To Success" on SoleCollector.com gives the following conclusion:

"... have you ever wondered what his secret to success is?

Its simple really, doodles. You read that right, Mark Parker's secret is his doodles. They help him clarify the brainstorming process. And, increasingly, scientific research backs up that claim. According to Business Insider, doodling can help people stay focused, grasp new concepts, and retain information. A blank page also can serve as an extended playing field for the brain, allowing people to revise and improve on creative thoughts and ideas.

The studies say:

• Doodlers had 29% better recall of a recorded telephone message than a control group when given a surprise memory test.

• Doodles help guide the "default network" of the brain, which allows you to better pay attention.

• For people who have a higher optimal level of stimulation — like those with ADHD — doodling helps them focus.

• Doodles help people express emotions that are hard to fit into words."

Please let me know if you doodle too 🙂

Ace Jewelers, News, Public Appearance, Technology

Alon speaking during Global Ecommerce Summit 2014

13 May 2014 admin Leave a comment

Launched six years ago, the Global E-Commerce Summit is the leading international event that focuses on the most important trends and developments in global e-commerce, cross-border trading and omni-channel retail. After editions in Amsterdam and Monaco, the event settled on Barcelona, which has now been the home of the summit and the awards ceremony for the last four years.

Three days with inspiring key notes, market insights, business strategies, useful business cases, networking possibilities (like the Global E-commerce Party) and of course the fourth edition of the European E-commerce Award ceremony.

In 2014 the theme will be: The Next E-Commerce Revolution: No Borders, No Channels.

In 1998 Alon joined the family company as a marketing manager and created the first website for the company. In 2008, as Co-CEO of the company, Alon launched the first international eBoutique in the Netherlands to be authorized to retail high-end Swiss watch brands and premium diamond jewelry. Together with this launch, the company was transformed from a classic local retailer in to an international cross-channel retailer. Many innovations followed, like: the first augemented reality tool for diamond rings in the world, first etailer in the world that has been authorized by IWC Schaffhausen to sell online and the first Dutch jeweller to launch a stand-alone mCommerce site for luxury accessories, watches and diamonds.

On June 16th, 2014 Alon Ben Joseph will speaking during the Pre-conference e-Payments track of the Global Ecommerce Summit about “Challenges of a high-end jeweller with online payments.”

See more of Alon's former and future speaking engagements on this dedicated page.

Advertisements, Marketing, Videos

Diesel is back with a vengeance - Jogg Jeans campaign rocks

20 April 2014 admin Leave a comment

When you think Diesel, you think... Wrong, we are not talking about the fuel for your car 😉

Yes, I am talking about the denim brand with an edge!

Maybe the most famous TV commercial for a jeans is the 1986 Levi's 501 commercial where a guy takes a bath with his red tab jean on.

But, who can forget the "For Successful Living" campaigns in the 1990s by Diesel!?

It seems that Diesel might have lost it's touch in the 2000s, but they are back with a vengeance in the 2010s! Diesel is totally cutting edge! Why?

Because they introduced "The Diesel Jogg Jeans" and launched like it the 'right' way:

1. They are (again) innovating - The Jogg Jeans is a cross-over between a denim jeans pants and a sweat pants. Fusing two trends into one.
2. They are creating synergy - Diesel teamed up with i-D Magazine and photographer Jacob Sutton and made the movie: A-Z of Dance.
3. They went social & viral - They hash-tagged the launch out of it. As they should 😉 Just check: #joggjeans 🙂
4. They are interactive - Just land on Diesel.com and you can find your own tweet on their homepage.
5. It's not an one time shot - They will be a follow-up movie with User Generated Content.
6. Last but not least - They speak the 'language' of their (new) target group.

Conclusion: Two thumbs up for Diesel. I really got excited about the product, launch, video, execution and follow-up.

Diesel is back with a vengeance! Got your pair of Jogg Jeans via: diesel.com/joggjeans and upload your movie!

Ace Jewelers, Philosophy, Watches

My Father, The Inspirator

17 December 2013 admin Leave a comment

My father, David Ben Joseph, has always been (and still is every day) a true inspirator to me. He does not only inspires me, but also our family (members), our extended family (the team) at Ace Jewelers, our customers and his friends, but apparently also the international chief editor of 00/24 Watch World magazines. Apparently my dad inspired him so much during and even a while after an interview they did, the editor wrote a column about it:

Kinderspel
by Lex Stolk

"Ik verlaat juwelier Ace & Spyer aan het Amsterdamse Koningsplein met knagende ambivalentie. Mijn gesprek met eigenaar David Ben Joseph was amicaal, enthousiasmerend en verhelderend. Tot zover niets tweeslachtigs. Toch kauwen mijn hersenen op een flard uit het gesprek dat hardnekkig op de voorgrond van mijn gedachten blijft. Wat mijn denken vasthoudt, is het verhaal van David dat hij als kleine jongen zijn horloge keer op keer uitelkaar haalde. Hij was zo gefascineerd
door het feit dat een verzameling radertjes, asjes en veertjes zo nauwkeurig de tijd kon weergeven, dat hij op onderzoek ging. Hij maakte de kast open, aanschouwde het ‘geheim’ en dook vervolgens nog verder in het avontuur door het tikkende mechaniek te demonteren om het maar beter te kunnen doorgronden. Keer op keer herhaalde hij die handeling totdat het in- en uit elkaar zetten van het uurwerkje uiteindelijk feilloos verliep.

Uiteindelijk onthulde hij het geheim van zijn horloge zonder de betovering te verbreken. Zijn kinderspel leidde ten slotte tot een eigen zaak met vele mechanische tophorloges. Tijdens het verhaal van David denk ik aan mijn eigen kind van twaalf en aan vele andere kinderen die niet zoveel anders zullen zijn als de jonge onderzoeker David Ben Joseph. Nieuwsgierige geesten die zichzelf en de wereld ontdekken en spelenderwijs hun talenten ontplooien. Maar deze gretige onderzoekers leven in een heel andere wereld, een elektronische wereld. De horlogemakers van morgen spelen met Nintendo’s in plaats van Pontiacs. Spelcomputers die uit brandende belangstelling worden geopend, bieden een teleurstellende aanblik van printplaatjes. Inspirerende fijnmechanica is ver te zoeken in het leven van alledag. Dat moet anders. Ouders aller landen geeft uw kinderen een mechanisch horloge! Onthoud uw kinderen de geneugten van technische verwondering niet. Ik heb mijn zoon inmiddels een horloge gegeven waarin een langzaam tikkend en robuust Unitas- handopwinduurwerk ligt verscholen. Kijken wat er gebeurt. Het is een experiment. Een klein offer misschien wel, want ruwe vingers en delicate mechanica zijn geen gelukkige combinatie.

Omdat ik niet kan verlangen dat andere ouders ook offers brengen, doe ik ook nog een oproep aan de uurwerkfabrikanten van deze wereld: ETA, Sellita, Seiko, Miyota en anderen, deel op lagere scholen uurwerken uit om te betoveren en te inspireren."

For a (poor) English translation of the article by Google, please click here.

This article was published as the introduction of the Winter 2013/2014 Edition of the physical edition of 00/24 WatchWorld Magaine. Get your personal copy via: www.0024.nl. Also available in English via: www.0024watchworld.com.

Ace Jewelers, Business

Nominated for Entrepreneurs Award by City of Amsterdam

31 October 2013 admin 1 Comment

I am proud to announce that the City of Amsterdam, nominated our company, Ace Jewelers Group, as one of the 15 nominees to win the Entrepreneurs Award 2013!

The City of Amsterdam nominated 15 entrepreneurs from 69 candidates for the Ondernemersprijs 2013.
First in the list: Alon Ben Joseph of Ace Jewelers Group 🙂
This is the sixth time the City of Amsterdam organizes this Award and last year ID&T won the prize.
Our company will be audited next week and we hope we will make it to the last three. The Award will be announced on November 27th, 2013.

For additional information, please visit: www.amsterdam.nl.