JANY Winter Show Day Three: Sunny Send-Off for Exhibitors & Attendees
January 24, 07The first
This show, considered by many to be a regional show, has far greater implications for new designers who are looking to debut their lines. Many new faces were in evidence on the show floor – new designers and designers new to exhibiting at this show.
Buyers strolling the aisles of the Couture Pavilion, the
Show Highlights
The winter show is not known to be a strong venue for loose diamond dealers. The New York Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) Pavilion was about 30 percent smaller than usual as some of the regular exhibitors decided to skip the show altogether. Those with a unique niche and specialty dealers, however, found interested buyers willing to mazal for the right goods.
One such specialty dealer, Elan Ben-David of the natural color diamond firm, Ishay Ben-David, found a receptive audience at JA, but one requiring education as well as goods. "We had some very positive feedback from retailers here at the show. Many are not willing, and think they are not able, to carry color diamonds. Many are simply not familiar with them. So we take this opportunity to educate them on our goods. Fancy color diamonds aren't being promoted to consumers by many independent retailers who have the misconception that they're all too costly and just not right for their customers. So, we must educate them. And, we do make sales. Of course, we also make connections. That's mainly what we come to the show for, to start new relationships," said Ben-David.
Yvonne Belic and Ellie Mann of Finesse Diamonds, a diamond firm specializing in high-end, large ideal cut goods, also saw the show as a good venue for networking.
Chaim L. Hammer, patriarch of the family firm Hammer Diamonds, with his son Mendel and grandson beside him in his booth in the DDC Pavilion said the show was, "Excellent. Excellent. We sold a two carater today, the last day of the show. And we sold a number of four and six grainers too." Hammer deals in highly discounted average cuts and off-makes.
Conflict Diamonds: Addressing the Issue
Although the topic of conflict diamonds did not overshadow the show, neither did it appear that anyone was attempting to skirt the topic either. The DPS and the World Diamond Council's Strengthening Industry Safeguards seminar provided a venue for the free exchange of ideas as well as the most current information regarding the industry's commitment to strengthen the Kimberley Process.
According to Steve Macdiarmid, Stuller had, “very little feedback from retailers,” having only had five actually call to discuss the matter in greater detail.
“We provided information to our customers downstream so that the consumer would get the right information,” Macdiarmid said. “We were contacted by Global Witness and asked to provide details as to how we warranted our goods as conflict-free and I think that we showed that we treated the issue seriously in the way we treated our downstream customers. We distributed the DPS ‘Confidence Packs’, we did six in-depth articles in our newsletter, two e-mails to our client base, and even another mailer, a sort of mini ‘Confidence Pack’ to be sure our downstream clients were well versed on the issue.”
”Overall as an industry, I also think that we've done a good job in keeping our house in order. We haven't achieved perfection and it's an ongoing struggle, but we needn't hang our heads. However, we mustn't become complacent either," concluded Macdiarmid.
New Bridal Showcase
A new feature of the JA Winter Show was the introduction of a Bridal Showcase on the show floor. Touted as the focal point for retailers looking for what's new and exciting in the realm of bridal, the section seemed under appreciated by attendees, perhaps due to its newness. Programs held throughout the show allowed visitors to meet with bridal jewelry designers and to learn more about what's predicted to be the jewelry trends in bridal. Conversely, purveyors of high-end bridal were extremely popular.
Educational Seminars, Demonstrations & Lectures
With topics ranging from timely consumer trend forecasting to pro-active management strategies, from how-to's such as evaluating and taking in damaged jewelry for repair to bench jeweler productivity, JA's educational component had something for everyone and did not disappoint.
In an effort to broaden their reach, JA's President and CEO Matthew A. Runci and JA Education Director David Peters introduced JA's online education program. The online courses aim to allow distance learning and high-quality training to be available and within easy reach of retailers at an affordable price point.
Conclusion
In characterizing this year's JA Winter Show, Drew Lawsky, Show Director said, "The energy at the show was fantastic. The floor was busy and there was a lot of activity. Attendees were drawn to the trends for the new year and the wide selection of offerings the show provides."
As Edward Kordmany of IGI added, "The show was pretty positive, a nice turnout. Overall, if you ask me, I'd say it was pretty good."