The 2013 JAA International Jewellery Fair will go ahead at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre.
Swarovski event among changes at 2013 Jewellery Fairs
2.6 k views | Posted October 23, 2012 |
By Jeff Salton • Assistant Editor
A Swarovski international design competition launch event, new opening
hours and a revised floor layout are just some of the changes planned
for fairs in 2013.
Expertise Event managing director Gary Fitz-Roy said his aim was to make the jewellery industry fairs the ‘must see events’ in 2013. He believed the coup for next year’s Sydney International Jewellery Fair would be the launch of a Swarovski International Design Competition. The event would include parades, music and a celebration.
“This will really place the Australian jewellery industry into the international space and we are delighted to have this as part of our 2013 plans,” Fitz-Roy said, adding that more details about Swarovski’s inclusion would follow.
Sydney fair stays put
More importantly, Fitz-Roy emphasised that, although Sydney’s Darling Harbour Convention & Exhibition Centre is scheduled for a $1 billion redevelopment, next year’s Sydney Fair remains at Darling Harbour because the NSW Government begins the major reconstruction of the entire precinct after the jewellery fair.
The 2014 fair will move to the temporary venue while the four-year construction proceeds.
Next year the Sydney fair floorplan will undergo a major change to incorporate five new
dedicated sections:
• Gemstones Pavilion
• Opalus-International Opal Show
• Packaging Tools and Equipment Pavilion
• Watch and Clock Pavilion
• Australian-made
They will appear in prominent locations and be themed with carpet colour, fascia colour and entrance aisle signage after visitor feedback indicated that they wanted to be able to find products with ease and similar product categories in the same area.
Operating days and hours
Fitz-Roy said that although there was often debate about the most appropriate operating days, the ‘voting’ on a Saturday-Sunday-Monday format versus the current Sunday-Monday-Tuesday format had basically remained at 50-50 so there was no definitive right or wrong answer to the best format.
However, opening times would change from the traditional 10am to 9am, resulting in an extra hour of trading each day.
Other initiatives
In addition to securing the involvement of Swarovski, Expertise was investigating bringing a major international jewellery and luxury goods expert to Australia on a speaking engagement.
“I am pleased to announce that we have secured a major jewellery design competition by Swarovski Gems. This will include a major launch function at the Sydney Fair with parades, music and celebration and I am currently exploring having seminars by a major luxury goods expert,” Fitz-Roy said.
“I am 100 per cent committed to ensuring the fairs continue to meet and exceed market demand. Hopefully, together we can achieve some great things in 2013,” he added.
Jeweller reported two weeks ago that Nationwide Jewellers had secured high profile US sales expert Shane Decker to present at next year’s International Jewellery Fair.
The Melbourne and Brisbane Fairs would continue with this year’s initiative of a ‘happy hour’ on the opening night of the first day. Fitz-Roy said that while the three-fair calendar had been locked in for 2013, he may review the schedule for 2014, after the 2013 Brisbane Fair.
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