Continental Buying Group Announces CBG Experience in Phoenix This September
June 10, 26
Curated Designer Project Expands to Eight Independent Designers; The Essentials at CBG Debuts at
The CBG Experience in Phoenix; New Programming Format Set for Arizona
LAS VEGAS, NV, June 2026 - Continental Buying Group (CBG), the jewelry industry's premier buying
group serving over 90 flagship independent retail jewelry locations across roughly 210 doors in the United
States and Canada, has concluded a successful two-day event at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Held
May 26 and 27, 2026, in the Augustus Showroom, the event brought together CBG's retail and supplier
membership for two days of buying, networking, education, and community.
LAS VEGAS EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Evocative programming was a key part of the Las Vegas event. Elizabeth West of De Beers London
presented on the origin of natural diamonds, offering CBG retail members a compelling narrative for
connecting consumers to the provenance and meaning behind the stones they purchase. Jennifer
Shaheen of Technology Therapy Group returned to the CBG stage to continue the organization's AI
education curriculum, equipping independent retailers with practical tools for applying emerging
technology to their businesses.
CURATED DESIGNER PROJECT EXPANDS TO EIGHT
One of the defining features of the Las Vegas Event was the continued growth of the Curated Designer
Project (CDP), CBG's curated pavilion showcasing independent fine jewelry designers. What debuted as
a four-designer showcase at CBG's Miami event expanded to eight designers in Las Vegas, each
bringing a distinct creative perspective to the event floor. The eight participating designers were:
• Chris Ploof Designs
• Folium
• GemologyGeek
• Joyla Jewelry
• Rahul's Jewels
• Melinda Lawton Jewelry
• Jason McLeod Jewelry
• ANTY
Off the successful sophomore showing in Las Vegas, CBG plans to expand the Curated Designer Project
further for The CBG Experience in Phoenix, with at least four additional designers joining the program
there.
NEW EXHIBITOR: TIMEPIECE GRADING SPECIALISTS
The Las Vegas Event welcomed Timepiece Grading Specialists (TGS), founded by Fred Savage, as a
new exhibitor. TGS offers independent watch grading and authentication services in partnership with Stoll
& Co. in Dayton, Ohio, extending CBG's exhibitor mix in the growing secondary and pre-owned watch
market.
LOOKING AHEAD: THE CBG EXPERIENCE IN PHOENIX
With Las Vegas complete, CBG now turns its attention to The CBG Experience in Phoenix at the Arizona
Biltmore Resort, scheduled for September 13 through 16, 2026.
The CBG Experience in Phoenix will introduce several programming changes informed by member
feedback. Traditional breakfast sessions will be replaced by facilitated Strategy Roundtables designed to
generate more meaningful peer-to-peer dialogue among CBG's retail and supplier members. Evening
programming will shift to hosted cocktail receptions featuring heavy hors d'oeuvres and signature
activations designed to entertain and connect, creating a more festive environment for relationship
building at the close of each event day.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: RISHAD TOBACCOWALA
The CBG Experience in Phoenix will feature a keynote address from Rishad Tobaccowala, one of the
most respected voices in business transformation, marketing innovation, and the future of work. A former
Chief Strategist and Chief Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe, Tobaccowala has spent decades helping
organizations navigate the intersection of data and human intuition, a concept he describes as marrying
the math and the magic. He has been named a Marketing Innovator by TIME magazine and is one of a
select group of individuals inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame. His most recent book, Rethinking
Work, addresses the profound shifts reshaping business in the age of artificial intelligence and distributed
work. His perspective on how independent businesses can adapt, differentiate, and lead in a rapidly
changing landscape makes him a compelling voice for CBG's retail and supplier membership.
The CBG Experience in Phoenix will also see the debut of The Essentials at CBG, a dedicated
pavilion designed to spotlight emerging and value-oriented suppliers within the broader event floor. Fully
furnished and enclosed, The Essentials provides a structured, accessible entry point for newer brands
looking to build lasting relationships with CBG's independent retail membership.
"The Las Vegas Event reminded us of what makes this community special. The quality of
conversation on the floor, the genuine connections between our retail and supplier
members, and the energy around the Curated Designer Project all point to an
organization that is moving in the right direction. We are carrying that momentum into
Phoenix."
— Joe Murphy, CEO, Continental Buying Group
"We listen closely to our members, and the changes coming to The CBG Experience in
Phoenix reflect what we have heard. The Strategy Roundtables are designed to give our
retailers a forum for honest, facilitated conversation about the challenges and
opportunities they face every day. The Essentials at CBG gives emerging suppliers a
dedicated, prominent home within our events, and we are excited to introduce it in
Arizona."
— Matt Tratner, President, Continental Buying Group
"I did 98 percent of the business I needed to do in Las Vegas at the CBG event. By
Thursday morning I was walking the other floors and realized I had already accomplished
everything I came to Vegas to do. CBG made that possible."
— Mark Perle, Mark Peter's Diamond Designs
ABOUT CONTINENTAL BUYING GROUP
Continental Buying Group (CBG) is a North American jewelry industry buying group serving
approximately 95 flagship independent retail jewelry locations across roughly 215 doors in the United
States and Canada, along with nearly 170 vetted supplier members. CBG hosts three events annually,
bringing its membership together for buying, education, and community building.