Last month, I was lucky enough to escape the last dregs of New York City’s winter and find my way to 80-degree Los Angeles. While it’s always a pleasure to spend time downtown with our West Coast sales rep, Robin Lutin, visiting friends and clients in the heart of L.A.’s jewelry district, my trip was specifically structured around an event put together by the 24 Karat Club of Southern California and the Women’s Jewelry Association, Los Angeles Chapter.
“Meet the Media” featured three panelists—our very own editor in chief, Victoria Gomelsky, Dancing With the Stars stylist Kit Scarbo, and fashion editor/blogger Hellin Kay—answering questions by moderator (and longtime jewelry writer) Randi Molofsky Lithgow. The purpose was to give attendees—a mix of local designers, retailers, and publicists—insight into how jewelry manufacturers can get their product featured in the trade and consumer press, on television shows and movies, and on the red carpet. Congrats to event organizers Frank Proctor and Jen Cullen Williams of the Luxury Brand Group on a great turnout and a very creative concept. It would be terrific to see similar organizations host an event like this in other major jewelry manufacturing cities.
© JCK Events 2010
Last year’s Friday night beach party at Mandalay Bay was a huge hit (and not just because we had models outfitted in copies of our June issue!).
As you can see on this month’s cover and inside, our focus is on all the exciting aspects of the Mandalay Bay hotel complex that promise to make the JCK show, which moves there at the end of May, better than ever.
I’m personally very excited for the move. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is Las Vegas’ newest and best convention destination, with 30-foot-high ceilings upstairs and down, and the city’s highest-quality facilities, bar none.
In addition, more than 80 percent of the rooms in the complex’s three hotels (Mandalay Bay, the Four Seasons, and THEhotel) will be occupied by attendees, creating a lively, camp-like atmosphere day and night. And if it’s anything like last year, the Friday night beach party will be a blast (pack some shorts and flip flops!).
Thomas Kimura From Luxury Brand Group
The “Meet the Media” panel co-hosted by WJA featured our editor in chief, Victoria Gomelsky.
By the time you read this, I’ll have already made my annual pilgrimage to the Basel show. It’s always great to see our friends from around the world. I look forward to sharing the details in my May letter.
Up next: the SMART Show in Chicago and the American Gem Society Conclave in San Francisco. I look forward to seeing you there!