I returned from this year’s JCK show in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and the feedback on how terrific it was has only intensified.

As you likely know, this was the first year in the show’s new home at Mandalay Bay. As with any change, there was a lot of trepidation and uncertainty about the move. ­However, nearly all those fears were put to rest once the show began.

The new space is far superior to our old home at the Sands. And while some missed the restaurants and rooms they had come to love, everyone agreed the facility at the core of the Las Vegas experience—the convention center itself—surpassed expectations.

As always, the show was a whirlwind of buying, selling, schmoozing, eating, drinking, and dancing. (Sleep? What’s that?) The overall feeling of an improved economy and the upbeat assessment of our new home combined to create a positive energy I haven’t felt in years. This year’s edition of JCK Rocks the Beach, headlined by Bruno Mars, was an all-out celebration of good business, good friendships, and good times.

As publisher of JCK (owned by Reed Exhibitions), I saw how hard the show team worked to pull off this year’s blockbuster event. My heartfelt congratulations and professional admiration go out to them all.

Back in JCK publishing land, we’ve got a few exciting debuts of our own. First is the relaunch of JCKonline.com. For the first time, the three major divisions of the JCK brand—the magazine, the show, and a new sourcing site we’ve dubbed Marketplace—are combined under a single Web address. We’ve added more breaking news, more content from the magazine, more articles on how to run your store, more blog feeds, a state-of-the-art calendar, the faces of our Facebook friends, our favorite tweets, and a new slideshow area!

The new and improved JCKonline.com includes a JCK TV tab, where you can watch Rock Star, our first original video series (featuring Vic!).

JCK Marketplace, the newest extension of our 141-year-old brand, made its debut July 1 as the industry’s most important product-sourcing website. We’re combining the long-established data of our directory, showrooms from all JCK show exhibitors, and featured showrooms from our industry’s major players to provide this essential resource to the industry.

Our second big unveiling was the launch episode of our first original online video series, JCK Rock Star, presented by Swarovski Gems. The series features five designers, three judges, a suite of beautiful Swarovski Gems, and one eventual “Rock Star.” Please check it out! (And don’t miss “Who Will Be JCK’s Rock Star?” for the skinny on the contestants.)

I look forward to seeing everyone in New York this month for the JA Show and the exciting new LUXURY Privé show at the Pierre Hotel.

P.S. For those of you who watched editor in chief Victoria Gomelsky and me make our “prime time” debuts on “JCK TV, Live From Vegas,” thanks for the compliments! We’re excited to expand the program in 2012 and possibly even develop some new programs between now and then.