JCK Pre-Show Events: Quality Not Quantity

The countdown is nearly over and only a day remains until the biggest show in Vegas hits town. Not The Producers, not Cirque du Soleil and not the Blue Man Group, but JCK Las Vegas. For a select group of buyers, however, there are three pre-show events – Premier Luxury and by JCK at the Venetian, and Couture at the Wynn – to whet their buying appetites.

On day two of Luxury, attendance appeared sparse, with many exhibitors sitting at empty booths. Although this is mainly an invitation-only event, select retailers can obtain passes to the show – but it appeared that relatively few had chosen to do so.

Despite the lack of foot traffic, most exhibitors seemed to be generally pleased with the way the show was shaping up, proving the old quality not quantity adage right yes again.

Angela Karaguezian of Los Angeles-based Kirk Kara was unconcerned about the number of people walking the floor. “Luxury is more of an appointment show,” she said. “Yesterday was slow, today is picking up, and tomorrow we have lots of appointments,” she explained. “In terms of foot traffic, we expect plenty of passing interest in the platinum pavilion at JCK. There are definitely going to be a lot of eyeballs looking at our new designs.”

Over at the Lazare Kaplan booth, vice president of marketing Marcee Feinberg, commented that foot traffic was certainly down over last year. As well as being an appointment-driven show, Feinberg noted that Luxury faced competition from the Premier event and the Couture show, which opened today.

“There are a lot of places for retailers to be,” she observed. While she voiced confidence that the right retailers, in the right number, would come to the large booth, she noted that lack of visitors was detracting from the overall buzz on the floor. “It’s always nice to have traffic, she said, it creates excitement.”

A ten-minute walk down the strip to the Wynn, revealed where the Luxury foot traffic could be. The six-day Couture event only opened this morning, but already the buzz was in the air.

In previous years, VNU Expositions Jewelry Group held two shows at the Wynn, the Couture Jewellery Collection & Conference and Signature Salons. This year, the two events have been combined into one, high-end destination. The opening day of any show is too early to make predictions about its success, and too early to ask exhibitors about business, but if today’s momentum carries on, it looks like the new formula could be a hit.