JCK launched an exciting new design awards program last year, the JCK Jewelers Choice Awards. Conceived as the first industry design celebration with online voting exclusively by retailers, the program was a huge success.
In our first year, we received 430 design entries, which drew 11,000 votes from retailers. We celebrated the winners with original editorial photography in the March 2008 issue of JCK magazine (including a cover shot for the grand winner, Christopher Designs). We also published a celebratory supplement in April 2008 that displayed the winners as well as all the finalists. Finally, we created a large display of the winners for the opening night cocktail reception at The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas.
For the 2009 awards, we’ve added a powerful component: a large, glossy, tabloid “JCK Jewelers Choice Awards Preview” publication, featuring photographs of all the contest entries. Now entries can be viewed online and in print. And, since we will distribute this preview issue with the November 2008 issue of JCK, it will arrive on retailers’ desks just as the voting begins. Look for a ton more traffic and votes in the contest this year!
If you’re a manufacturer or designer and would like to enter this year’s contest, please visit www.jckonline.com/jewelerschoiceawards for additional information. If you’re a retailer, we’ll open the contest for voting in November, so please visit the site then.
We’re thrilled that this contest has created so much enthusiasm and energy in the marketplace (especially in a challenging year). We stated from the outset our goal of helping independent retailers by exposing fresh new designs and helping manufacturers by creating an outlet with tremendous exposure. We’ve accomplished just that and look forward to generating more excitement and opportunity in the year ahead.
Enjoy this final month of summer. Here’s hoping you’ll like this month’s terrific editorial package (including our third annual “Best in Show” roundup) by a lake, ocean, mountain, or in some other lovely setting!