Jewelers of America (JA) has released three new online courses at its J-Biz Education Center to help retailers and their sales associates close more business during the holiday season.

Among the offerings are courses on selling colored gemstones and explaining lab reports and gemstone treatments.

JA Director of Education David Peters said JA knows how crucial it is for the J-Biz online courses to be convenient and affordable, as well as engaging and worthwhile.

"That`s why our first online releases are focused on usable sales skills and knowledge that associates can take directly to the customer," Peters said in a media release.

One of JA`s new online courses, "Counter Intelligence," educates sales associates about professionalism, ethics and legal compliance, as well as how to communicate information regarding precious-metal quality marks, appraisals and laboratory reports, synthetic and imitation gems, and treatments.

Another online course, "Communicating Color," explores popular faceted gems and gemstone sources, colored-stone value factors, gemstone enhancements and disclosure, as well as proven techniques to close more colored-stone sales.

The third online course offered, "Treatment Talk: Discussing Gemstone Enhancements," covers different types of popular treated gemstones found in most stores, stability, care and cleaning issues, and techniques to help a sales professional communicate this information effectively to customers.

All online courses are in a self-study format and structured in short sections so students can take breaks; however, the courses can also be completed in one setting.

The courses are also designed to help retailers in their overall professional plan for staff members, as well as to provide information necessary to complete JA`s professional sales and management certification. Both individuals and retailers can purchase online courses; owners or managers can buy multiple courses, which come with a unique password for each individual employee.

For more information about JA`s new online courses, visit the J-Biz Education Center site, Jewelers.org .