Josh Zarb, CEO of the Independent Jewellers Collective (IJC) buying group – which also had a presence at the Gold Coast Trade Days – called the Sydney event “fantastic”.
“We organised several appointments for the fair but what I didn't expect was so many retailers approaching us out of the blue. So many had turned up from interstate and came to ask questions and sit down with us, which was fantastic,” Zarb said.
IJC was launched in early 2020, and the Trade Days were the first opportunity for the buying group to exhibit and connect with the industry in person.
“Overall, from a launch and from a new business point of view, it was one of the best fairs I've ever done, to be honest!” Zarb said.
Leading Edge Group Jewellers (LEGJ) also had a presence at the Sydney Trade Days, with head of jewellery Claire Packett telling Jeweller, "Having the opportunity to reconnect within the industry in a face-to-face setting was really beneficial for building relationships. Being a part of a trade show after a long hiatus was a great experience and one could feel the excitement amongst exhibitors and visitors.
"The location at the ICC was ideal and a wonderful place to showcase the latest in industry offerings."
Jennifer Van Den Broek launched her new brand, Vous Creations, at the Trade Days and was equally enthusiastic.
“The event space, location and execution was amazing. The volume of people coming through exceeded my expectations, and seeing customers after so long was a highlight. The relationships stood strong despite the COVID-19 restriction,” she told Jeweller.
“The new brand was received very well and the steady flow of customers, new business opportunities kept flowing – whether it was people from Canberra, Gold Coast or Tasmania.”
She added, “As a new business, it was an honour to be accepted and get signed up as a supplier by Showcase Jewellers, Nationwide Jewellers, and Independent Jewellers Collective [buying groups].”
Peter Grech, director Distell International, also enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with the industry: “The highlight was getting to see people you knew again and also making new contacts – an aspect of our trade I believe we all have missed!” he said, adding that the event had “most definitely” exceeded his expectations.
John Wertheim and Khristine Moore, directors J.S. Landau Diamonds, enjoyed “just being there again and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and reconnecting with customers”, adding, “Jewellery is tactile and nothing beats face-to-face business. The internet can’t replace this.”
Wertheim and Moore praised organiser Expertise Events for “persistence and perseverance” and “toughing it out” to ensure the Trade Days went ahead.
Gary Fitz-Roy, managing director Expertise Events, said the Sydney fair had “the same upbeat feel as the Gold Coast”.
“It's clear that retailers and suppliers just want to get back together and be able to talk and to share. It's all part of the process of rebuilding,” he added.
Retailer attendance at the Sydney show was higher than the Gold Coast, given the comparative size of the Sydney market, with Fitz-Roy observing that the attendance over the days was more evenly split due to being held on a weekend.
However, he added, “At the end of the day it's not about how many people go through the door – it's how many people sit down and write orders. At 3pm on Sunday, when we closed, there were still people sitting down and buying.”
While Wertheim and Moore said they did expect to see a higher number of retailers attend the Sydney show, they commended the “balanced” ratio of suppliers to buyers.
“Keeping the event small and suppliers balanced ensured that the ‘slices of the pie’ would not be too small, and there were no empty stands,” they said, adding that the “optimism of the suppliers and visitors was at a high level, which bodes well for the August fair [International Jewellery & Watch Fair].”
“It was noticeable that the negativity of previous trade fairs was gone. We believe a new and better phase of our industry is starting; COVID-19 has reset our industry and there are changes happening for the better in the way we all do business.”
Echoing that sentiment, Zarb called the Sydney and Gold Coast Trade Days “simple, easy, and effective”, adding that after the success of the two events, IJC was seriously considering taking part in the Adelaide and Perth Trade Days.
The next Trade Days event will run as part of the Melbourne Gift & Lifestyle Fair from 20–21 March – the city’s first live trade exhibition in more than a year – which is free to attend.
“Many city and regional retailers in Victoria carry both gift and jewellery lines, so it’s a good combination, but jewellery will still have its own dedicated section within the space,” Fitz-Roy explained.
In addition to effectively attending “two shows in one”, Fitz-Roy encouraged retailers to attend for the variety of free educational seminars on offer.
“There is a strong line-up of solid topics that can really help retailers. They’ll come out of those sessions armed with the best information on planning and direction post-COVID,” Fitz-Roy added.
The upcoming dates for the Trade Days are as follows:
- Melbourne Gift & Lifestyle: 20–22 March at Melbourne Exhibition Centre
- Adelaide: 27–28 March at Adelaide Showgrounds
- Perth: 10–11 April at Perth Convention Centre
INSIDE THE SYDNEY TRADE DAYS
More reading:
First Jewellery Trade Days on Gold Coast declared a success, Sydney dates now sold out!
Gold Coast Trade Days sold out, overwhelming support