Dubbed Jewellery World Show (JWS), the event, owned and operated by the Intermedia Group, was scheduled for 26-28 August 2012, only a week before the industry’s official JAA International Jewellery Fair. However, rumours about the show’s early demise began circulating last week.
While the official JAA fair has operated at Darling Harbour for 20 years, Jewellery World publisher, John Abolins, announced that his new, rival show was slated for Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion at Sydney’s Moore Park.
A floorplan was issued to prospective exhibitors at the beginning of December showing spaces for around 350 booths. By contrast, the JAA fair – organised by independent event operator, Expertise Events – averages around 270 exhibitors each year.
The new fair was being promoted on Jewellery World’s Facebook page as recently as 5 December.
Despite the vocal campaign mounted by Abolins and Intermedia, Jeweller learned that, as late as yesterday, the 26-28 August dates at the Moore Park venue were not under contract for any show.
In an extensive three-page promotion entitled ‘Time to take a stand’ in the November issue of the magazine, Abolins explained why Sydney needed a second jewellery trade fair. “The Jewellery World Show will provide the jewellery industry with a trade fair that offers a fair deal for exhibitors and retailers alike. In most cases exhibition space at the 2012 Show will cost less than space at the JAA International Jewellery Fair,” Abolins wrote.
A second story entitled ‘Fair go’ explained that Jewellery World magazine would be partnering with Interpoint Events – also a subsidiary of the Intermedia Group – to organise the inaugural event. Intermedia Group is one of Australia’s largest business publishers.
“Interpoint Events was formed in 2004 and annually organises 10-12 exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the US.” Abolins wrote. He also explained that if sold-out, JWS would “aim to” donate $250,000 to a new business, Jewellery Promotion Service, to undertake a consumer advertising campaign.
Jeweller contacted Abolins in November to clarify what constituted a “sell-out” but he never responded.
When first announced JAA Chairman Peter Beever admitted the JWS came as something of a shock: “The JAA wasn’t aware that Jewellery World was planning a fair at all, let alone a fair one week before our official industry trade fair.”
Beever said in November he was unsure as to why Sydney needed a second fair and added, “We’re not confident that the industry could support a second event at the same time as our [JAA] fair,” he said.
The magazine’s ‘Fair Go’ story also explained, “Prior to coming to Australia to launch Jewellery World [magazine] in 1981, John Abolins worked for the Canadian Jewellers Association where he organised and managed 10 jewellery fairs.”
One major supplier told Jeweller that they had heard the show had been officially cancelled and when contacted by telephone, Abolins did not deny the rumours about the cancellation, although he would make no further comment.
Jeweller then sought clarification via email from Abolins asking if the dates for the event were under contract with Sydney’s Moore Park, but at the time of publication he had not responded.
It’s not the first time Abolins has attempted to establish a second Sydney jewellery fair. In August 2006, the magazine publisher announced Jewellery World Show 2007, declaring then, “More than ever now, this show is the one for the industry – right focus, right time late in August, right venue and right price for exhibitors. There’s no longer a need to accept anything less.”
Interestingly, in a similar strategy to the recent announcement, Jewellery World Show 2007 was scheduled to take place two weeks before the JAA Jewellery Fair, however the 2007 Show never eventuated leaving a number of committed exhibitors angry and embarrassed.
The last few years have seen a great deal of controversy over the number of jewellery trade fairs in Australia as well as New Zealand. In November 2009
Jewellery World removed a report from its website about the two competing New Zealand trade fairs after complaints it was unfair and unbalanced.
Publisher’s note: Jeweller magazine is the official publication of the Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA). More reading: Second try at new jewellery fairNew jewellery fair for Sydney?