I’ve heard many good things about the JCK show in Vegas. I"ve
heard that in order to see/buy at the show you must have a retail
jewelry store and be able to prove invoices for many $. I’ve heard
of jewelers going to the show to buy gemstones from their supplier
who was showing there and not being allowed to enter(even after the
dealer pleaded with the JCK people that these were ligitimate
buyers) Maybe the rules have changed from that time but I advise
you to check before you make the trip.
I"ve heard that in order to see/buy at the show you must have a retail jewelry store and be able to prove invoices for many $. I've heard of jewelers going to the show to buy gemstones from their supplier who was showing there and not being allowed to enter(even after the dealer pleaded with the JCK people that these were ligitimate buyers) Maybe the rules have changed from that time but I advise you to check before you make the trip.>>
This is very true! Since I work with the Show let me clarify the
rules…
The JCK Show is a show for retail jewelers to buy their inventory
and therefore entry isn’t permitted to manufacturing jewelers or
designers… it is confusing for the designers who buy from the
AGTA Gemdealers and a source of some discontent for the dealers
however, the vast majority of exhibitors are there to sell to their
qualified buyers (retailers) and they’ve spent quite a lot of money
to do so… imanufacturers and designers have the opportunity
to buy gems at the shows designed for the manufacturing sector,
namely all the shows in Tuscon and the MJSA Shows in NY and
Providence.
the JCK rules are designed to keep the “buyer” population as pure
as possible for the sake of the paying exhibitors… the reason
we need this rule is that there’s always a few people who aren’t
retailers that manage to “sneak In” and some of them do so to have
access to the buyers without the expense of a booth (selling from
their pockets in the food court, kind of thing) and then there are
those that want to get in to see what other manufacturers are
designing and pricing at so that they could copy or
undercut… or job hunt from booth to booth or solicit
business from booth to booth…etc.etc.
I tell you these things not to assume any of you would do this - I
tell you this becuase you AREN’T this type and you need to know
that this behavior exists and we have to make rules that address
the problem people and unfortunately have to keep out honest poeple
who just innocently want to see what’s going on…
hope this explains the policy - please feel free to email me if
you’ve got any specific questions.
Cindy Edelstein
JCK Show Design Center Coordinator & president Jeweler’s Resource
NYC
What does anyone know about this show and if there is any way to
register after the deadline. I am starting jewelry line (newbie)
and should try to find Hong Kong connections for mass production
after I get my models made. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks,
Melissa
The JCK Las Vegas show may have the most restrictive entry policy of
any trade show anywhere. It is truly huge. Thousands of exhibitors.
You can actually get lost in there. If you divide the exhibitor count
by the available length of the show you get a figure of about two
minutes for each booth.
There are no badge entry provisions at all for visitors, refiners,
manufacturers, students, trade officials or any thing else. Only
(I’m told by show officialdom) “exhibitors and buyers for retail
stores, and the trade press” can legitimately gain entry. It is an
open secret that some (perhaps many) register for entry under false
retail buyer credentials.
Some other Orchid people may have alternate suggestions to find Hong
Kong contacts. Ordinarily I’d say go to Hong Kong to find your
contacts, but SARS has many hesitant to go now. Have you considered
other nations for your work?
Daniel Ballard
In response to Daniel, I find the JCK restrictions perfectly
logical.
This is a trade show, a business and they want their customers
(exhibitors) to find customers of their own, primarily retail
jewelry stores. The groups Daniel mentioned (visitors, refiners,
manufacturers, students, trade officials or any thing else) are not
likely to become customers and therefore are not the market JCK and
its exhibitors are looking for. In fact, under some circumstances
students can get an entry pass. Trade press are always welcome. But
visitors or manufacturers who might want to come and see their
competition and other products are precisely whom the JCK group and
its exhibitors want to bar, which makes sense to me. If I were
paying thousands of dollars to show, why would I want to let my
competition come and scope out what I was doing for free? This is
not a freebie or a government sponsored educational opportunity. It
is a business and the marketplace is open to those who ante up.
Contrary to what was stated, I think it is rare indeed that people
enter this show with false credentials. I would not suggest it. It
is a crime in most states. Badge swapping and incorrect
Identification are prohibited and in fact enforced legally.
But don’t get the wrong idea. This is the best jewelry show in the
country and as always it is easy to take shots at the top dog. But
their policies are clear, fair and make sense.
I will be there, by the way, in the AJDC booth in the Design Center.
Alan
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
760 Market Street
Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94102
tel: 415-391-4179
fax: 415-391-7570
web: http://www.revereacademy.com
email: alan@revereacademy.com
In response to Alan Revere on the Reed/JCK show,
I respectfully disagree.
I did not refer to “fairness” in my response to Melissa. That is a
subjective term in this context. In my opinion, “fair” would include
a consistent basis for exhibitor admission. The nice lady who asked
about entry will not now be surprised by Reed policy, so she can act
accordingly. Since it was brought up however…
I will address the other points Alan made- In the current era of web
catalogs, print catalogs, and advertising of new products- Its hard
to advertise and hide your new designs. Most who would copy new
designs (a terribly dishonorable and illegal practice) can do that
without the expense and trouble involved to get to Las Vegas. The
easy way? Just look at a store that carries the item! The retail
salesperson will give you a great view every time. This defies the
"logic" of the policy.
My opinion (based on many years of observation, and talks with
current and former exhibitors) is that the reasons stated by Reed for
their policies (exhibitor, or buyer) bear little resemblance to their
true motives. For example- Some firms have been on the “waiting” list
longer than some who now are exhibitors. Some wait a year or two some
far longer. It is widely believed by certain exhibitors (I must not
use names, that would jeopardize their booth space) that the size of
your ad commitment affects your ability to join the show. This defies
the “logic” or policy as stated by Reed when called by phone. I
wonder what affect my opinions in print have on our prospects at
getting a booth there. What might our readers think?
BTW, in the reply to Melissa I had specifically included the trade
press as able to gain entry. When I called JCK/Reed and asked I was
told there is no provision for “student” entry-Just buyers from
retail stores and the press. I’m just quoting what I was told a few
weeks ago by show officials. As a member of the MJSA trade show
committee I had hoped to encourage a broader policy at Reed. I do
hope I was misinformed but I doubt it. Nothing in the policy
indicates Melissa would be welcome. Even those who present no
credible competitive threat (like trade officials from MJSA or
others) are not admitted. My guess is overcrowding is the concern NOT
the stated concerns.
My employer has received letters from Reed that gave very different
reasons for our not being admitted than what we were told by the very
same organization at the same time (1999). Our ad rep with the
magazine gave a third set of reasons. That defies logic. That is at
best disingenuous and at worst deceptive. Some exhibitors have
admitted to me personally that they are not there to sell to retail
buyers-They are there to sell to other exhibitors. That breaks the
rules too, no?
I do sympathize with Reed in a couple ways- they have a full house
and cannot accommodate all who would exhibit, leaving them with the
necessity of disappointing many firms. They have had changes in
leadership that makes it tough to be consistent in policy and motives
for policies. The facility they have chosen is not up to the job.
Too many different rooms that can be hard to find.
False ID or badge swapping may be illegal but is not required to
gain entry- Just a false or temporary company affiliation. It is not
difficult at all to find people on the show floor with affiliations
that are not their actual day-to-day employer. With a wink and a nod
of course…
Again my opinion-The “best” (rather than the biggest) shows welcome
all who are legitimately in our trade. MJSA leads the way in this
regard. “Joya” in Mexico is another fine example- The show includes
everything from designer goods to tools and heavy equipment, and even
a booth for De Beers, who can not show in the USA. The buyer count is
in excess of ten thousand-They say up to 15,000. A great show by any
measure. Guadalajara, Mexico, every October. I’ll be THERE.
I’m happy for you Alan, you are “in” and doing well. I respect your
opinions, though as seen above I disagree. I encourage MJSA with
its new pavilion at JCK to use its influence to make a huge "good"
show into a huge “great” show that welcomes the entire trade. Just
issue badges that reflect ones position in the trade. That way the
exhibitor can see who is really a buyer and who is there for other
good reasons. Like seeing if you want to join that long waiting list
and become an exhibitor. Greatness does not discriminate.
This thread may continue, but I have had my say. Thanks to all who
care enough to contribute to Orchid.
Daniel Ballard
National Sales Manager-Precious Metals West
Director of Kraftwerks
800-999-7528
Member of the MJSA Trade Show Committee
All, I am also a dealer at the Las Vegas Gem Shows, G+LW Show Booth
71, at the Stardust Casino. As a show dealer I have very little time
for after show activities. But, all are welcome to drop by and
introduce themselves. As for JCK. I applied to be a dealer in the
JCK Show and found out that they have a waiting list of over 2,000
dealers for the Las Vegas Show. They told me it could be many years
before I would get entry. I have not applied for the show and am
still making up my mind.
Show customer entrance policies have no reason to them. G+LW will
let just about anyone into their show who has the minimal credentials
for entrance. I have approached them about making the show a retail
show and they said the sales tax collection process is so messy that
most dealers do not want to sell retail. JCK + AGTA have the most
restrictive entrance policies in publicized shows. Why? It makes no
sense to me for the same reasons Daniel stated. It seems to be a
carry over of a wholesale relationship which in my experience does
not exist any longer. Most restrictive entrance is the “By
Invitation Only” wholesale and retail shows. These shows are not
publicly announced. Dealers are chosen by the promoter and customers
are by invitation only. Some of these shows like the "Couture Show"
in Phoenix are Invitation only to certain Jewelry Stores. In San
Diego a large by Invitation Only Jewelry Show is held each year for
only certain retail customers. I have heard of similar shows in
Houston, Chicago, and New York City. Large, private shows occur in
most large cities in the USA. You will not know about them unless you
are invited. This discussion does not include the “Hidden Society
Shows” which occur on off shore islands with little to no regulation.
Quite a mess.
Gerry Galarneau
In addition to Alan Revere’s well-stated list of reasons for denying
entry to just anyone who wants to have a look at the show, please be
reminded that security is a constant and vital issue for any jewelry
show. By restricting the show to those who have a business reason
to be there, show management is trying to deny entry to crooks.
As for arriving under false credentials, the registration process is
quite vigorous. If your retail operation isn’t legitimate, your
chances of getting in are slender.
Ettagale Blauer
Hi
There is nothing about snobbery, there are businesses there that
have a clientele that they serve. High end.
Yes and there are suppliers there who sell jewellery for under $100.
Also their are those who sell much more expensive jewellery It just
looks like a trade show for retailers to buy from. Also for stores
that make jewellery. It is the Reed group who have trade fairs here
in Australia. The wife went to one recently in Sydney conditions of
entry are the same as JCK, not onerous. You just have to have a
registered business address.
It seems you just have to be a registered business and back it with
invoices from the trade. Don’t see the problem, unless you are
looking for business but not to buy.
Richard
Hi,
Don’t know if you have attended a JCK show. Yes they might sell
jewelry for under $100, they still have minimums. Probably just
another problem for some.
There are people, like David Yurman, he has a pavilion. You make an
appointment to see the line. Nothing can be seen from outside the
pavilion, it was like a small castle the year I went.
I basically straddle the line, I can get in, just can’t buy much.
It is a massive show. Security is very tight. Only store owners and
their employees. If you want to take a friend, like someone who is
not in the business that you are staying with in Las Vegas, you have
to break the rules. Not that I would ever do anything like that!
Richard Hart G. G.
Denver, Co.
Hi
Yes they might sell jewelry for under $100, they still have minimums point I was trying to make was that it covers a wide range of price points and so is good for all levels of the trade.
Lowest minimum purchase at the fair in Sydney was $300 of each
product range and often a lot more. Loose gemstones at JCK for
$20,000.
From the JCK website the low end jewellery is a lot better than we
have here. The top end not much different from here.
Richard