In recent years, the jewellery industry in Australia has faced an unusual conundrum.
For decades, a single large jewellery fair in Sydney was the cornerstone of the annual calendar. The International Jewellery Fair was the event suppliers and retailers counted on to showcase new products, forge new relationships, and bolster old ones.
Internal politics fractured this tradition, resulting in the creation of a rival fair. What was once a unified platform to bring the industry together has now split into two competing events.
From my perspective, under this new structure, neither event can be supported by suppliers or buyers as well as the original united the industry as it once did.
This fragmentation has weakened the impact of both fairs and left many industry players — especially smaller retailers and artisans — scrambling to figure out which event to attend. It’s a detrimental headache.
More troublingly, this division is occurring against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, where unity and collaboration are more essential than ever.
Now, more than ever, the jewellery industry needs to consider the broader implications of this split and what it means for the future of the trade.
Past reflections
For many years, the annual jewellery fair in Sydney was more than just an event — it was a symbol of the industry’s cohesion. This event offered an opportunity for jewellers, wholesalers, and designers to connect and network while exploring the latest trends and innovations.
It was also an invaluable resource for smaller boutique operations and independent artisans, many of whom depend on these fairs to gain exposure to a broader market.
Suppliers, in turn, relied on this concentrated pool of buyers to meet their annual sales targets and secure long-term partnerships.
This collective experience fostered a sense of unity in the industry. The fair wasn’t just about buying and selling! It was about learning from each other, exchanging ideas, and elevating the craftsmanship that defines our trade.
The benefits of a single, strong event are immeasurable, creating a ripple effect that bolsters the entire industry from the smallest independent jeweller to the largest supplier.
Present situation
Internal disputes and differing visions fractured the industry. Instead of resolving these disagreements and moving forward, the rival Jewellery Industry Fair was established.
In theory, competition is a positive force, encouraging innovation and improvement. In practice, however, this division has only diluted the value of both events.
Suppliers facing the financial and logistical challenge of supporting two fairs often scale back their participation or attend only one event.
Similarly, retailers are forced to choose between the two, which leads to fewer opportunities to connect with a full range of industry players.
The end result? The competition between the two fairs has weakened unity in the jewellery industry rather than strengthened it.
From my perspective, by forcing people to decide neither event has been able to conjure that same sense of industry cooperation and unification as the single fair did in the past. This creates a situation where both events can underdeliver, and no one truly wins.
Moreover, this situation has hurt the smaller players the most. Attending both fairs is often financially or logistically impossible for boutique jewellers and artisans.
These are the businesses that rely most heavily on the exposure and connections that such events provide. Without the industry's full support at one unified event, many of them are left out in the cold.
Future direction
Globally, we live in a period of economic uncertainty. The jewellery industry, like many others, is feeling the strain.
It’s time for industry leaders, suppliers, and retailers to recognise that division is doing more harm than good. The jewellery fair should not be a battleground for internal politics. It should be a shared space where the industry survives and thrives.
Returning to a unified fair would restore much-needed coherence and strength, allowing us to weather the economic challenges ahead together.
As a jeweller and a business owner, I urge the key players in our industry to put aside differences and reconcile.
Let’s create a single fair that reflects the best of what the Australian jewellery trade offers — a space where innovation, collaboration, and unity take precedence over division.
We owe it to ourselves, our businesses and our customers to ensure that the jewellery industry remains strong – and that strength comes from unity.
Let’s not allow petty politics to fracture what should be a collaborative and supportive community.
Instead, let’s come together and forge a path forward that benefits us all.
In these uncertain times, one thing is clear: we are all stronger together.
Name: Trent Cullum
Business: Ritchies Jewellers
Position: Owner
Location: Bundaberg, Queensland
Years in the industry: 23
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