HOTJ Signs Marketing Services Company RLA Creative

House of Taylor Jewelry (HOTJ) announced Tuesday that it has employed the services of RLA Creative, Inc., a marketing services company based in Cresskill, New Jersey. RLA’s previous work includes jewelry companies such as Lieberfarb, South African Diamonds, ArtCarved Bridal for the Palladium Alliance, Lyric and Celebration Diamonds.

According to Robert Lombardi, president and CEO of RLA, "The agency will immediately go to work to take full advantage of our new client's unmatched brand awareness in the diamond jewelry industry." Lombardi notes that his goal will be to “provide a sharp communication focus” for the brands – Elizabeth (R), House of Taylor (R) Jewelry and Kathy Ireland Jewelry (R).

RLA will work directly with Lyle Rose, newly appointed HOTJ president and CEO, preparing marketing programs “in time for the industry's major trade shows in Las Vegas later this month.” JCK Las Vegas begins May 30.

House of Taylor Jewelry has recently been beset with financial problems. The company saw a 99.3 percent net sales decline for the year ended December 31, and its shares were recently delisted from Nasdaq, due to its failure to release its annual results by the deadline and its failure to pay its listing fees.

In December, the jewelry firm released news that it had signed a Letter of Intent with PD Financial Corp (operating under the trade name PeachDirect) to release consumer jewelry catalogs and web portals for HOTJ-created branded jewelry.

The parties also expressed hope to establish a jointly owned marketing entity, to focus on this growing segment of the jewelry business.