THIRD COUTURE EVENT SPOTLIGHTS LUXURY
The third annual Jewelry Couture Collection & Conference was held May 25-28 at The Phoenician resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The event was launched in 1995 to aid upscale jewelers in merchandise planning and marketing strategies. This year’s focus on luxury marketing recognized that attendees were much more than jewelers, says Nancy Robey, executive director. They’re purveyors of luxury products.
New this year was a special pavilion of luxury products for home and lifestyle, such as high-end silver hollowware by Italian silversmith Cacchione and U.S. designer John Hardy and cigar accessories such as fine wooden humidors.
Seminars focused on the luxury marketing theme and included presentations on partnerships, service, customer loyalty, boosting sales staff productivity and creating an attractive environment. The many social events also tied into education, such as an “On Location” fashion show hosted by Harper’s Bazaar magazine, where jewelry and timepieces from exhibitors were paired with fall designer ready-to-wear fashions. Breakfast presentations by Platinum Guild International and Hachette Filipacchi Magazines added to the educational programs. (See Market Place, page 42.)
The Town & Country Couture Design Awards, a special competition launched last year, was held again this year. The winners were: Gold Award, The John Hardy Collection, New York City; Gold with Stone Accents Award, Yuri Ichihashi Inc., New York City; Diamond Award, Penny Preville, Great Neck, N.Y.; and Platinum Award, Michael B., Studio City, Cal. Two companies won the Watch Award: Daniel Roth S.A. and the Hermes Watch Co., San Francisco. And there were three winners of Cultured Pearl Association awards: the Vhernier Collection by Jean-Francois Michaud of Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Bernard Grosz of New York City; and J.R. Gold Designs, New York City. Lux, Bond & Green of Hartford, Conn., was named Retailer of the Year.
OASIS ANNOUNCES GIFT SHOW
The OASIS Gift Show, organized by the Organization of Associated Salespeople in the Southwest Inc., will be held Aug. 8-10 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza in Phoenix, Ariz. Jewelry and other gift merchandise will be among the 1,300 exhibitions at the show.
OASIS, 2633 E. Indian School, Suite 340, Phoenix, AZ 85016-6762; (800) 424-9519 or (609) 952-2050, fax (609) 952-2244.
EASTERN TRAVELERS BOOK WOLFORD AS SPEAKER
The Eastern Jewelers Travelers Association has engaged Susan Wolford of Talisman in Grand Rapids, Mich., to speak at its Charlotte Jewelers Market, to be held Aug. 23-24 at the New Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Wolford, vice president of the corporate and recognition jewelry manufacturer and author of the book Putting All Your Pieces Into Place, will deliver step-by-step suggestions on drawing new customers and making the most of existing traffic.
Eastern Jewelers Travelers Association, 5550 77 Center Drive, #180, Charlotte, NC 28217; (800) 595-3582 or (704) 525-3582, fax (704) 525-2750.
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR FLORIDA SHOWS
The Florida International Gift Show and The Jewelry & Accessories Expo will be held Aug. 9-12 in the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. The keynote presentation, “The Gift Industry Today, Tomorrow and Beyond,” will be given by Anthony DeMasi, editor in chief and copublisher of Giftware News.
Trent & Co., 594 Broadway, Suite 302, New York, NY 10012; (212) 966-0024; e-mail trentco@interport.net.
ACC SAN FRANCISCO FAIR RETURNS TO ORIGINAL WEEKEND
The American Craft Council will present the ACC Craft Fair Aug. 6-7 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, Cal. The dates were moved back to these original dates to coincide with the San Francisco International Gift Fair and other Bay Area wholesale markets.
ACC, 21 S. Eltings Corner Rd., Highland, NY 12528; (800) 836-3470 or (914) 883-6100, fax (914) 883-6130.
FOREIGN SHOW UPDATE
Barnajoya will be held Sept.
11-15 at the Montjuïc Trade Fair Centre in Barcelona, Spain. Fira de Barcelona, Av. Reina Ma. Cristina, s/n, 08004 Barcelona, Spain; (34-93) 233-2000, fax (34-93) 233-2272.
The MidEast Watch & Jewellery Fair will be held Oct. 1-5 at the Expo Centre Sharjah in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Expo Centre Sharjah, P.O. Box 3222, Sharjah, UAE; (971-6) 391-888, fax (971-6) 392-888.
Natalie Rokusek & Associates offers travel packages for the Hong Kong Jewelry & Watch Fair, scheduled to be held Sept. 3-7 in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. Natalie Rokusek & Associates, P.O. Box 27460, San Francisco, CA 94127-0460; (800) 484-9851 or (415) 333-6054, fax (415) 334-7926.
Religio ’98, the exhibition of religious jewelry and articles, is scheduled for Feb. 7-9 at the Brandly Exhibition Center in Paris, France. In the U.S., call (888) 256-2538, ext. 70 or see the Internet site at http://www. aristonet.com.
The Taipei International Jewelry & Timepiece Show will be held Sept. 5-9 at the Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei, Taiwan. Exhibitors will offer fine and fashion jewelry; semiprecious, synthetic and reconstructed stones; timepieces and components; and machinery and equipment. CETDC Inc., 420 Fifth Ave., 28th Fl., New York, NY 10018; (212) 730-4466, fax (212) 730-4370, Internet http://www.taipeitradeshows.org.
The Arab Jewellery & Watch Show will be held Nov. 4-7 in the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Trans Continental Fairs Management, P.O. Box 28438, Dubai, UAE; (971-4) 667-886, fax (971-4) 680-756, e-mail wmsaleh@emirates.net.ae.
GLORIA ROTHSTEIN ADDS NEW SHOW
A Jewelry, Gem and Mineral Show and Sale will be held Oct. 24-26 at the Fort Washington Expo Center in Fort Washington, Pa.
This is an addition to the calendar of shows sponsored by A Gloria Rothstein Show Inc., Box 1010, Highland Mills, NY 10930-1010; (914) 782-7469, fax (914) 782-7400
JIS ANNOUNCES AREA CODE CHANGE
Jewelers International Showcase has new telephone and fax numbers because of a regional area code change. The new numbers are (561) 998-0205, fax (561) 998-0209.
COLUMBUS SHOW SELLS OUT
Exhibit space has once again sold out for the Columbus Jewelry Show, to be held Aug. 22-24 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
An Education Forum, cocktail party and golf tournament will open the event on Friday, Aug. 22. The buying show will run Saturday and Sunday.
Ohio Jewelers Association, 50 W. Broad St., Suite 2020, Columbus, OH 43215; (800) 652-6257 or (614) 221-2237, fax (614) 221-7020.