Good Attendance at Centurion South Beach
International Watch Conference Debuts as part
By JCK Online Staff -- JCK Online, 11/14/2008 4:16:00 PM
Nearly 60 exhibitors and 80 prestige jewelry retailers participated in the second annual Centurion South Beach show, held concurrently with the debut of the International Watch Conference last month in Miami Beach, Fla.
The watch event was the focal point of the education program at the invitation-only show, which took place Oct.15-18 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
“We are gratified by the excellent response we have had from outstanding retail jewelers and watch manufacturers for our first Watch Conference event,” said Centurion president Howard Hauben. “The conference offered a wealth of insider information, with candid input from our panelists that shed light on many of the issues that arise in the watch business, for retailers and brands alike.”
Internet challenges for watch retailers, discounting philosophies, how to sell more watches, taking advantage of watch trade-in, the best methods for selecting a new brand, and current trends in the marketplace were some of the topics discussed at the conference.
The conference offered nine hours of sessions and was sponsored by the American Watch Guild and Centurion Jewelry By Invitation Only, LLC.
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With all due respect to your comment I felt I had to write a comment as well.Howard is reporting on his well received Watch Conference and did not comment about buying at the show. Let's not forget the show was prior to the election, the stock market was plunging everyday and hence the retailers were not in a buying mood.I don't think we have the right to blame Howard for that!The show did bring in some wonderful retailers from all over the US the caribean and south america. Eventhough I did not "write" any orders, I felt that my time was not wasted as I got to meet some wonderful retailers who seemed genuinely interested in our collection and promised to come back @ Centurion Tucson.
Myriam Gumuchian-Schreiber - 2008-19-11 11:07:00 EST -
what iresponsible reporting .....the show was a total dud, bust, some exhibitors didnt write a single order.
this is just another shop operator BS'ing the trade to think they are the engine running the industry.
I am a believer in trade shows, however, the operators have priced themselves out of the market, maybe they should sit in some of the sessions on how to market successfully. I believe trade show attendence both exhbitors and buyers will keep falling in huge numbers in 2009
Steven Kaye - 2008-19-11 07:06:00 EST
