RAPAPORT... Every year the industry converges on the desert oasis of Las Vegas to view the newest jewelry trends, attend educational seminars and network at the various jewelry shows held there concurrently. Each year exhibitors hold their breath and hope for a “good” show, and it’s always a gamble. This year, with the U.S. economy on a downward spiral, exhibitors were lowering expectations and hoping that retailers would show up in the mood to buy. While traffic was down at the shows, they weren’t the disaster that some were predicting. In fact, most exhibitors reported doing decent business — maybe not as much as in previous years, but respectable nonetheless. As at any show, there are always some who do better and some who don’t do as well, whether it is due to preshow marketing efforts, traffic at the show, booth location or the product being offered. There are many factors that contribute to an exhibitor’s success at a show. Buyers who did attend the show were serious about finding new product or filling in inventory. What the shows were missing were the looky-loos who wander the aisles checking out what’s there and not buying now, but saying they will buy “later.” What seemed to do well at the shows this year were big diamonds of over 5 carats and design-oriented jewelry that is unique. There was no “must-have” jewelry item, but there was definitely a surge in jewelry showcasing rough diamonds or diamonds that would have previously been used for industrial purposes — diamonds that are opaque, highly included, slices and nongem-quality rough. Jewelry with these stones did provide some excitement at the shows.
Amber Michelle
Editor-in-Chief
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - July 2008. To subscribe click here.