Show of the Week: JCK Las Vegas
-- Tradeshow Week, 5/25/2009
Where: Las Vegas Sands MegaCenter, Las Vegas (fixed)
When: May 30-June 3 (annual)
Show owner: Reed Exhibitions
General service contractor: Freeman
Who exhibits: High-end jewelry designers and manufacturers, along with manufacturers and distributors of jewelry-related products and services
Who attends: Fine jewelry retailers and wholesalers
2008 show statistics: 604,000 net sq. ft.; 3,100 exhibitors; 20,000 professional attendees (estimated)
Rank on 2009 TSW 200: 29
New this year: Multiple incentives designed to get buyers to the show. There will be an enhanced VIP buyer program focusing efforts on 1,500 particularly hot prospects and a loyalty program that will supply up to $1,000 in merchandise credit per store for retailers who go to JCK Las Vegas year after year.
The bottom line: See above. High-end jewelry has been hit just as hard as any other retail sector. Show organizers are going all out to get qualified buyers onto the showfloor, but are hearing the same objections as those at other shows, i.e., travel budgets that are slashed and retailers who decide to sit this one out because they've still got inventory from last year's show.
Sources: 2009 TSW Data Book; 2009 TSW 200; JCK Las Vegas
