Gary Fitz-Roy, managing director Expertise Events, told Jeweller that the decision to move the show date was made earlier this week, prior to the announcement of new border restrictions between NSW and Queensland, and increasing COVID-19 case numbers in Victoria.
“We're making our decisions based on what's best for the industry, rather than a particular state. We haven't reacted to Victoria, we haven't reacted to Queensland. No-one knew the announcement [from the Queensland Premier] was coming – we certainly didn't.
“We made a commitment to the industry that we would give an update on the show at the end of July, and we've been transparent in our communication and shared the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Fitz-Roy said.
In an email to exhibitors, Fitz-Roy confirmed that the mid-October dates had only recently been made available by International Convention Centre Sydney, adding that the extra four weeks would give “more time for state border restrictions to be reviewed, especially given most states have resumed to near-normal business operations”.
He added, “If we’d made this decision two weeks ago, we would have been jumping the gun. Today, we are making the next decisive move that is in the best interest of the industry. Will everyone like it? Possibly not. But if we're going to have any industry to come back to, and if retailers are going to survive, it's got to start with something.
"It's our desire and hope that the October new dates will give us an opportunity to reconnect, do everything we've talked about, and move forward."
The Spring Gift & Lifestyle show, which was scheduled to run concurrently with the IJWF at the ICC Sydney exhibition centre, will also take place on the new October dates.
The exhibitor email states that the later schedule “provides more time for State border restrictions to be reviewed especially given most states have resumed to near normal business operations. It will also allow buyers a little more time to gauge their stock levels in time for Christmas, and although we do know this could mean some suppliers will need to review their own supply levels and timing we believe it’s the ‘greater good theory’.
Fitz-Roy told Jeweller he also believes the new dates are more suitable because “there are no international shows, so the sourcing and supply of stock for the busiest period, being Christmas, is still important. Sooner or later, retailers are going to need stock. And significantly, not many retailers have had visits from suppliers [this year],” he explained.
Expertise Events previously announced several initiatives aimed at reducing costs for exhibitors, including new modular stands and the Expertise Mate discount program.
Addressing safety concerns, Fitz-Roy said delaying the show was “realistic” and would provide enough time for case numbers to stabilise in Victoria.
“We have to accept that we will have COVID-19 among us for some time. So I think what [moving the dates] means is that it gives all states a bit more time to get things under control and they are obviously ramping that up,” he explained.
Fitz-Roy added, “We have to keep in perspective that NSW is confirming less than 20 cases per day. That shows it's a very controlled situation. To all intents and purposes, there could and should be a lot more outbreaks but it's showing what a good job they are doing.”
Expertise Events will provide a further update on the Sydney shows on 4 September. The Gold Coast Gift & Lifestyle fair will proceed as planned on 26–28 September.
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