【New York Cit】Rauch, Bouffard Start Jewelry Business Accelerator

by

Editor’s Note

This article introduces JEM Brands Group, a new accelerator founded by industry veterans to invest in and scale direct-to-consumer and omnichannel jewelry brands.

None
Designers / Industry

Scott Rauch (pictured), the cofounder of SHR Jewelry Group, and longtime Signet executive David Bouffard have established JEM Brands Group—a business accelerator designed to identify, acquire, and scale direct-to-consumer (DTC) and omnichannel jewelry brands.

JEM, which stands for Jewelry Enterprise Management, lists its early goals as attracting a select group of designers for incubation, as well as acquiring a profitable brand with a charismatic founder. Its strategy involves forming a “pipeline of newness,” which will identify high-potential jewelry brands with strong founder identities, compelling product stories, and unique visual signatures, according to a JEM statement.

Longer term, Rauch and Bouffard aim to build a multibrand company that will offer shared services, licensing deals, and vertically integrated manufacturing and marketing, the statement said.

“Over 30,000 DTC and omnichannel jewelry brands have entered the space in recent years, displacing and taking share from the traditional and legacy players in the industry,” said Rauch, who was also a former senior executive at M. Fabrikant & Sons, in the statement.
“What they have in creativity, they often lack in efficiency. JEM exists to bridge that gap—bringing financial acumen, supply chain expertise, expansive distribution, and marketing prowess to unlock their full potential.”

JEM has already set up an office in New York City, with design, CAD, casting, and finishing capabilities.

In addition to acquisitions, the company hopes to forge licensing partnerships with watch, handbags, tween fashion, and celebrity-driven brands.

Bouffard, a former chair of the Responsible Jewellery Council, will advise brands on how to improve their sourcing policies.

“Consumers today are asking more questions about where their jewelry comes from and how it’s made,” Bouffard said in the statement. “JEM Brands is committed to supply chain transparency.”
He added: “We’re creating a platform where artistry meets enterprise, where emerging brands get the guidance and backing they need to thrive.”

(Photo courtesy of SHR)

Full article: View original |
⏰ Published on: June 04, 2025