Almost 100 Companies to Exhibit at BrilliAnt Show in Antwerp
January 25, 17
(IDEX Online) – Antwerp’s diamond district is preparing to receive hundreds of retail jewelers, leading designers and diamond buyers who will participate in the three-day 'BrilliANT', Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair, from January 29-31.
The eighth edition of the fair will be hosted in the historical diamond trading halls of the Antwerp Diamond Bourses. It is a joint initiative of the Bourse, Club and the Antwerp Diamond Kring, and is powered by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the organizers said in a statement.
“For most jewelers in the US, Asia and Europe, the 2016 holiday sales season was significantly better than earlier years,” said Michel Schonfeld, of BrilliAnt’s organizing committee. “Industry market analysts and marketing agencies all agree that the outlook for 2017 is positive, with diamond jewelry sales expected to grow. This bodes well for our fair, as we expect the invited jewelry manufacturers and retailers to replenish their depleted stocks for their production lines and stores.”
“By holding the fair in the trading halls of our bourse, we lower the threshold for new and returning visitors alike. In contrast to trade shows held in anonymous exhibition halls, here, in our diamond bourse buildings, and in the three streets that make up Antwerp’s diamond district, buyers get access to the totality of the undisputed diamond capital of the world and to a choice and variety of polished diamonds that is unparalleled.”
This year, to make it easier for visitors and exhibitors, the seminar program will be held conveniently in the large boardroom of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, just a few steps away from both the trading halls.
The seminars, to be given by the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDM), HRD Antwerp NV and the Diamond Producers Association (DPA), will focus on many aspects of diamond and diamond jewelry marketing and sales.
The World Diamond Mark will make a presentation on January 29 called ‘Driving traffic to retailers - the World Diamond® Mark Model, with a preview of the WDM’s new consumer-oriented website and programs, and demonstrate how digital marketing channels have become the most effective and affordable and effective marketing tools to reach consumers and drive traffic to retail jewelers.
On January 30, Laurence Vandenborre, Senior Lector Education of HRD Antwerp NV will offer ‘Tips and tools on how to hone your B2C skills and boost your jewelry business. Jean Marc Lieberherr, CEO of the DPA, will speak about the DPA’s 'Real is Rare' campaign on the same day.
“The 2016 report on the state of the diamond industry released by Bain & Co. and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre clearly indicates, contrary to common belief, that the Millennial generation are the largest and most important consumer group that buys diamonds and diamond jewellery," said Daniel Fraenkel, a member of BrilliAnt – the ATDF’s Organizing Committee. “To engage Millennials and other categories, however, our industry needs to adopt new methods, tools and programs. We are therefore very pleased to have Jean Marc Lieberherr of the DPA, the WDM’s team and Laurence Vandenborre of our own HRD as speakers in the seminar program shedding light on the various aspects and the work done for and on behalf of our industry. We encourage our visitors, most of whom are retail jewelers, to take advantage of this excellent program,” Fraenkel stated.