NEW YORK — With an emphasis on creature comforts, such as massages between appointments, the upcoming accessories shows in New York promise to offer as many opportunities to network, relax and socialize as to score new business deals.
Show organizers say little touches count more than ever in a crowded show season, when both exhibitor and visitor numbers are predicted to be on the upswing.
That appears to be the case whether the market is dealing with mainstream accessories or high-end jewelry.
The JCK Invitational, which will be held Feb. 4 to 6 at the New York Hilton, will be “amenity-rich,” said Dave Bonaparte, vice president of JCK events.
“Lounges, networking areas, business centers, and food and beverage are the creature comforts that will have more of an emphasis from us,” said Bonaparte. “We want to deliver more so it’s more comfortable for retailers, they have more incentive to shop and they maximize their time when they are there.” Other highlights: the Rapaport International Diamond Conference that will be held on the second day of the show and will focus on issues such as conflict diamonds and the impact of the Internet on profits.
To make the show more visitor-friendly, Bonaparte said the exhibition space would be broken up
between those who show to majors and to independents, as well as between other categories such as timepieces and designer jewelry. “What works are navigational tools for retailers to work the shows, and to segment the show floor by category,” he said.
According to Bonaparte, JCK shows perform well regardless of market forces. “No matter what the jewelry business is doing, whether sales are flying through the roof or lagging, exhibitors want to be in front of retailers. So, from an event standpoint, the arena is thriving. Gold prices are fluctuating, but diamond prices continue to escalate, so maybe some of the [manufacturers’] margin gets taken away. But it doesn’t affect the shows too much.”
It is expected to be a season of interesting
offerings. The trend to colored gemstones in jewelry, and a preponderance of stones such as black onyx and mother-of-pearl, give retailers a lot to choose from. Drew Lawsky, group show director of JA New York, said he was expecting more than 750 exhibitors to the JA New York Winter Show, up from 450 vendors and 4,350 visitors in 2006.
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“We are excited for this program to continue to grow and develop, as the show truly offers something for everyone,” said Lawsky.
Highlights of the Jan. 21 to 23 event at the Jacob K. Javits Center include international pavilions and the Couture Pavilion, a platform for high-end designers.
“The Winter Show is the first place for designers to debut new collections right after the holidays, and it’s where the hottest trends for the upcoming year are all unveiled,” he said.
Accessories show organizers are equally upbeat. AccessoriesTheShow, which runs Jan. 7 to 9 at the Javits Center and will feature some 1,600 accessories lines, is already sold out, said Britton Jones, chief executive officer of Business Journals Inc., which organizes the event.
“AccessoriesTheShow is a vibrant marketplace for accessories, and if more space comes on line, the growth percentage would be closer to 18 percent,” said Jones, adding that attendance is expected to be about 20 percent above that of the 2006 season.
The show will serve as a platform for a number of spring-summer 2007 debuts, including Australian-made luggage from Vandelay, shoes from Steve Madden and handbags from Monsac and Allison Scott. For buyers there will be an abundance of complimentary treats, ranging from massages and smoothies to generous meal spreads.
And Accessorie Circuit, the contemporary
women’s accessories show, will return to the Show Piers in New York for its run, slated for Jan. 7 to 9.