Debbie Fox (left) and Laura Verses. DEBBIE FOX
VICE PRESIDENT
FOX FINE JEWELRY
VENTURA, CALIFORNIA
“I always attend JCK Las Vegas.... Everything new is usually debuted at JCK Vegas, and nearly everyone is there. The most fascinating piece of jewelry I saw this year was a gorgeous butterfly ring with a double shank — one for below the knuckle and another for above. When the wearer bends her knuckle, the wings flap.
“As our store has grown in volume, I’ve forgone the seminars for more buying time. This year, I reviewed the seminar offerings and was impressed that JCK Vegas is upping its auxiliary value to the retailers. Many educational seminars are cloaked infomercials, but this didn’t appear to be the case at JCK Vegas. I plan on attending the seminars next year.
“I’m pretty diligent in my planning.... I photograph my purchases, and each night I review the day, reassess my jewelry needs, and create the following day’s schedule. Along with responding to emails and social [media], it doesn’t leave much time for nightlife.
“My goals are threefold. First, it’s to meet with vendors I work with, especially ones that don’t have easy alternative ways to do transactions. Secondly, I look for really cool original pieces and really great bargains, which are usually not the same pieces. And finally, it’s to see jewelry trends, learn new technologies and connect with others in the industry. I only make appointments if the booth is too popular to assist me. They’re hard to keep.”
LAURA VERSES
VICE PRESIDENT
CRAIG’S FINE JEWELRY
RIDGEFIELD, CONNECTICUT
“Sure, attending JCK is an investment of my time away from the store, but you can’t miss it. It’s when designers are showcasing their newest collections, and it’s important to be aware of trends in the industry, regardless of whether I’m coming back with merchandise. We are a small store, and at this time of year, it’s hard to commit and say, ‘Ship that in a couple of months.’ But you can tell customers what’s popular. And when you have inquiries, you know where you’ve seen the products.
“I attended two seminars that I found very interesting, but I was sitting there knowing that I could be out walking the show instead. I would prefer having an option to attend educational seminars before the show opens, so I wouldn’t have that conflict.
“I tried not to make appointments this year, although I have in previous years. I really wanted to have maximum time to walk the show. I’m really lucky, because a lot of the vendors we work with are on the east coast, so I can see them at a local show or make a one-on-one appointment at another time.
“My goal for the show was to seek out new looks. So much has been the same in the past few years. We are in a conservative area, and our customers are a little slower to adopt trends, so we are selective and bring back bits and pieces of what we see.”
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - July 2018. To subscribe click here.