More gourmet food trucks featuring Mongolian barbeque and Sonoran hot dogs will certainly please shoppers at the AGTA GemFair Tucson at the Tucson Convention Center, Feb. 4–9, but another new feature may be the best way yet of enticing more attendees: AGTA’s plan to help buyers make jewelry with their loose stones before they head home.

“Many retailers simply let the loose stones pile up in their vaults, but now they can take them to an onsite CAD-Cam studio with six designers who’ll create models—some will even print waxes—for merchants to take home,” says Doug Hucker, president. “This move will help turn the merchandise faster.”

Also returning to the AGTA show this year: cash giveaways. Up to $2,000 worth of credits will be given away daily to spend on the show floor. “We hope jewelers had a great holiday season, so they can come out to the show and restock,” adds Hucker.

JCK