JOYA ’95, MEXICO’S MAIN JEWELRY SHOW
What: JOYA ’95
Date: Oct. 3-7, 1995
Where: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Who: The “JOYA” shows are sponsored by CRIJPEJ (the Camara Regional de la Industria de Joyeria y Plateria del Estado de Jalisco, translated as Regional House of the Jewelry and Silversmithing Industry of the State of Jalisco). Exhibitors are primarily Mexican jewelry manufacturers with a few foreign findings companies; attending are independent Mexican buyers and distributors.
The JOYA shows are a springboard for anyone wishing to take advantage of NAFTA to do jewelry business south of the border. They facilitate customs transactions with Mexican Federal agents, provide references and contacts with businesses inside Mexico, and offer guidance in some legal matters.
The mood: The devaluation of the Mexican peso earlier in the year cast a shadow over the proceedings of JOYA ’95. Show official Sergio Diaz noted that some 40%-50% of Mexican jewelry manufacturers were “wiped out” by the economic consequences of devaluation. Many people’s savings disappeared virtually overnight and interest rates soaring as high as 38% kept manufacturers from buying raw materials and machinery or hiring new workers.
Show attendance was lower than usual. There were 109 exhibitors (down 100 from 1994). Registered buyers totaled 2,774 (down from 3,200 in ’94, the show’s best year), 102 of them from abroad. Devaluation has affected buying power, reducing it by some 50% according to Gabriel Guzman, vice president of CRIJPEJ and owner of Madisa Co., a gold and silver chain and jewelry manufacturer based in Guadalajara.
Despite the discouraging news, some Mexican jewelry manufacturers are optimistic about the future. Salomon Calderon, president of Diflor, a Mexican jewelry manufacturer, says, “The economy is slowly getting better.” He points to the stabilizing effect on the Mexican peso of Mexico’s early payments on its outstanding loans with the United States.
“We have weathered this kind of crisis many times before,” says Guzman. “But now things have changed. We can’t just rely on the domestic marketplace to sell our goods. We need to actively seek other foreign markets which have international buying power.”
Veronica Aguirre, department head of CRIJPEJ’s international commerce division, notes that while the numbers were less, many exhibitors said they were happy with their sales figures. “What our exhibitors had projected in sales was certainly met.”
Products: Most goods were tailored to sell in the domestic market. Silver, gold-overlay chains, gold jewelry and jewelry with synthetic gem materials sold well. Diflor, which produces fine gold jewelry for export, is among companies looking away from the domestic market. Calderon notes, “We want to create an image that ‘made in Mexico’ can be synonymous with a fine standard of quality. Here we have high quality, hand-made goods which cannot be found in industrial [mass produced] lines. U.S. clients should try it out.” -Robert Weldon, senior editor
FRANK CARDONE JOINS JCK SHOWS
Frank Cardone, formerly executive vice president of the Jewelry Information Center, has been named exhibit assignment manager of the JCK International Jewelry Shows.
Cardone entered the jewelry industry as sales promotion manager at Napier Co., a manufacturer and marketer of fashion jewelry. He later worked as an assistant buyer at J.C. Penney corporate headquarters.
“Frank’s 15 years with JIC included extensive contacts with management of leading industry suppliers, retailers, associations and trade magazines,” says JCK Publisher Charles Bond. “His understanding of the industry will be a valuable asset for the JCK Shows.”
Lee Lawrence, JCK’s international sales manager, adds: “Frank’s experience makes him eminently qualified to undertake the responsibilities of coordinating JCK’s year-round activities with exhibitors. He will be working with me to develop exhibit floor plans and layouts for the Las Vegas and Orlando Shows and will assist me with defining booth assignments for exhibitors.”
BALTIMORE CRAFT FAIR TO MARK ANNIVERSARY
The American Craft Council will present the 20th annual ACC Craft Fair Baltimore Feb. 27-29 in Baltimore, Md. This year’s fair is expected to attract 800 vendors and 6,000 trade buyers (it will be open to the public March 1-3). Jewelry and gifts will be among the merchandise shown.
American Craft Council, 21 S. Eltings Corner Rd., Highland, N.Y. 12528; (800) 836-3470 or (914) 883-6100, fax (914) 883-6130
SHOWCASE TO FEATURE TOOLS FOR JEWELERS
The Catalog in Motion Jewelers’ Equipment Showcase will be held Feb. 3-6 in the Tucson East Hilton, 7600 E. Broadway, Tucson, Ariz.
The showcase, sponsored by Rio Grande Tools & Equipment, will offer working demonstrations of the company’s jewelry-making tools and feature a selection of findings, gemstones and packaging merchandise.
Entry is free. Register at the door or by contacting the
Catalog in Motion Office, 3820 Academy Pkwy. N./N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87109; (505) 344-1483, fax (505) 345-0097
IJE ANNOUNCES PLANS
Organizers expect 700-750 exhibitors and 5,000-7,000-buyers to attend the International Jewelers Exposition, a new show to debut May 18-20 in the Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, N.J.
Atlantic City was chosen for the show because it is “a cost-effective, exciting destination where [retailers] could mix business with pleasure within easy reach of major Northeast U.S. population centers,” says John Fox, IJE communications director. Organizers also hope to draw retailers from the South, Midwest and Canada.
The convention center is on Atlantic City’s boardwalk and is within walking distance of hotels, restaurants, entertainment and shops. Planned as part of the show are an education program and a by-invitation-only antique and estate jewelry auction. Social activities will include a golf tournament.
Emanuel Fuchs, outgoing executive director of the New York State Jewelers Association, has endorsed the show, saying, “IJE will provide an opportunity for our members to be directly involved in their own sort of shows. Formerly, our members attended a show which was not their own. But IJE is different. This show is designed for retailers by retailers.”
The show is being organized by Best Trade Shows Management Inc. and sponsored by Modern Jeweler magazine.
Best Trade Shows Management Inc., Bayport One Suite 410, 8025 Black Horse Pike, West Atlantic City, N.J. 08232; (800) 344-6301 or (609) 344-6300, fax (609) 344-4164
PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES TO BE OFFERED AT 2 SHOWS
TPS Visual Communications will operate a jewelry photographic studio for retailers and suppliers in the Sands Expo & Convention Center during JA Las Vegas!, scheduled Jan. 10-12, and in the Jacob Javits Convention Center during the winter JA International Jewelry Show in New York, scheduled Feb. 3-6. Merchandise left for photographing can be returned in as little as two hours.
TPS Visual Communications, 138 Liberty Ave., Mineola, N.Y. 11501; (516) 739-5919
GEM & MINERAL SOCIETY PREPARES FOR ‘MAIN SHOW’
The 42nd Tucson Gem & Mineral Show will be held Feb. 8-11 in the Tucson Convention Center. The show, also known as the Main Show, began in 1955 with eight dealers and dozens of hobbyists. Since then it has attracted more than 20 satellite shows that draw 100,000 people each February.
This year’s event will feature collections of gems and minerals from two dozen museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Samotzvety Museum in Moscow and the Sorbonne in Paris. The featured mineral this year is calcite.
Admission to the show is $5.
Tucson Gem & Mineral Society, P.O. Box 42543, Tucson, Ariz. 85733; (520) 322-5773, fax (520) 322-6031
MILLER FREEMAN RELOCATES
Miller Freeman Inc. Merchandise Shows moved to a new location at One Penn Plaza in New York City. The new address and telephone and fax numbers are
P.O. Box 2549, New York, N.Y. 10116-2549; (212) 615-2657, fax (212) 279-3966
BUYERS MARKET SET IN PHILADELPHIA
More than 1,300 American studio artists are expected to exhibit at the winter Philadelphia Buyers Market, scheduled for Feb. 9-12 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. A jewelry and wearables preview will be held 4-8 p.m. Feb. 8.
Breakfast seminars, daily fashion shows and the presentation of NICHE Awards will be scheduled as part of the market. The seminars are “Hiring, Training & Keeping Great Employees,” presented by retail consultant Ethel Beal, and “How to Compete in the World of Mass Marketing,” presented by Patti Cohane, specialty market editor of Gift & Stationery Business magazine.
For registration and discount hotel and travel arrangements, call
Market Travel at (800) 43-CRAFT. Rosen Group Inc., 3000 Chestnut Ave., Suite 300, Baltimore, Md. 21211; (410) 889-2933
FOREIGN SHOW UPDATE
The Hong Kong Jewelry & Watch Fair, held Sept. 17-21, featured diamonds, pearls, colored gems and fine jewelry from 1,372 exhibitors from 32 countries. It attracted 32,330 buyers from 65 countries. Organizers reported orders totaling $380 million and post-fair orders estimated at $177 million. The next fall fair will be held Sept. 18-22 in the Hong Kong Convention Centre.
Miller Freeman Inc. P.O. Box 2549 New York, N.Y. 10116-2549; (212) 615-2657, fax (212) 279-3966
The Gift Association of America will sponsor a trip to the Birmingham International Spring Gift Fair, to be held Feb. 4-8 in England. The tour will leave the U.S. Feb. 2 and will include an optional tour to Chester, the Lakes District and Scotland (for private product showings).
Gift Association of America, 612 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, Pa. 18018; (610) 861-9445
Showcase Dublin will be held Jan. 14-17 in the Royal Dublin Society Exhibition Complex, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland. The show features works of Irish artisans in various disciplines, including jewelry, silverware, china and clocks.
Irish Trade Board, 345 Park Ave., 17th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10154; (800) BUY-IRELAND, fax (212) 371-6398
The spring International Frankfurt Fair will be held Feb. 24-28 and will feature eight segments. The jewelry/watch/clock segment will have 435 exhibitors, say organizers.
Messe Frankfurt, 200 Galleria Pkwy., Suite 790, Atlanta, Ga. 30399; (770) 984-8016, fax (770) 984-8023
Macef Spring ’96 will be held Feb. 9-12 in Milan, Italy. More than 3,000 exhibitors are expected for the fair, which features jewelry, gifts, tableware and household goods. A special two-hall section will feature modern and collectors’ watches, antique jewelry, goldsmiths’ items and silverware.
Fiera Milano International, Largo Domodossola, 1-20145, Milan, Italy; (39-2) 485-501, fax (39-2) 4800-4423
The Taipei International Jewelry & Timepiece Show, held Sept. 14-18 in the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall, featured fine and fashion jewelry, loose stones and timepieces. Organizers say the fair attracted 270 exhibitors in 585 booths and more than 20,000 buyers (177 from the U.S.). The next edition of the fair will be held Sept. 14-18.
Taipei World Trade Center, Five Hsin Yi Rd., Sec. Five, Taipei, Taiwan; (886-2) 725-1314, fax (886-2) 725-1111
Organizers say business was good at the first fall edition of Iberjoya, held in September in Madrid, Spain. The fair featured 250 exhibitors and attracted 10,780 buyers. The show will be held this year in the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Center Jan. 12-16 and Sept. 13-17.
IFEMA, 2655 LeJeune Rd., Suite 1108, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134; (305) 444-9500, fax, (305) 529-2854
Buyer attendance rose 16% to 5,551 at International Jewellery London, held Sept. 3-6 in London. Highlights included live demonstrations of jewelry repairs and bead stringing, jewelry design and pearl princess contests, and presentations by De Beers. The 1996 fair will be held Sept. 8-11.
Reed Exhibitions, 383 Main Ave., Norwalk, Conn. 06851; (203) 840-5308, fax (203) 840-9308