Diamond Council of America Publishes Updated Colored Gemstone Course
State-Of-The-Art Course Includes 123 Page Colored Gemstone Reference Guide
(Tucson, Arizona) - During a press conference at the American Gem Trade Association's Tucson GemFair, Diamond Council of America President and CEO, Terry Chandler, announced completion of DCA's Colored Gemstone Course.
According to Chandler, the two-year project is complete and members have been receiving the new course for about thirty days.
The course, a collaborative effort between the Diamond Council of America and Performance Concepts, is "light years ahead of our previous Colored Gemstone Course", Chandler said.
The work contains sixteen lessons, a comprehensive review, four tests, a separate Colored Gemstone Compendium, and an exhaustive glossary. It is a thorough study of gemstones, their history, lore, and geological makeup.
As with it's other courses, DCA has focused on sales training as well as product knowledge. Roughly 30% of the coursework is dedicated to moving the information from the text to the student and then, to the counter, in order to increase sales.
The Colored Gemstone Compendium, a 123 page reference guide, is a "stand alone" book, included with the course, which students may use at the counter to review a specific gemstone's history, origin and geological makeup with their customers.
Chandler added, "I am most excited about the Colored Gemstone Compendium. I know of no other distance education vehicle that offers, in addition to in-depth training and education, this easy to understand, comprehensive reference tool. The Compendium's design is perfect and not only serves as a quick review for the student, but can be taken to the counter for use with customers."
When asked why the Diamond Council was placing such an emphasis on colored gemstones, Chandler said, "DCA's primary goal is a specific effort to place highly trained professionals behind our member's counters. While it's true that the majority of our members are "diamond focused", more and more sales of colored stones occur each year in member stores. It is unacceptable, to myself and the membership, that their sales associates be "under trained" in this vital area."
Finally, Chandler concluded, "To that end, Performance Concepts and the Diamond Council of America invested over two years of research and writing in this extraordinary work. It is an ideal "sister course" to the Diamond Council's very successful Diamond Course."
With the publication of this course, DCA has taken yet another "giant step" toward fulfilling their commitment to raise the bar of quality in distance education in the industry and toward their mission to teach facts and techniques that will help their member's sales associates increase sales.
DCA member students may order the course through the Nashville office for $115.