The JIS Show returned to the Miami Beach Convention Center in April, having relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a season while the convention center underwent a $625 million renovation and upgrade project (the venue was damaged in the 2017 hurricanes).
And jewelry buyers were clearly amped to experience the show in its (beautifully upgraded) home venue. Attendance on opening day was up 19 percent from 2017, and the show closed with a total attendance increase of 24 percent compared to the JIS April show in 2017.
More than 20 percent of attending stores traveled to Miami Beach, Fla., from outside of the United States. Buyers came from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern United States to shop fine and fashion jewelry from the show’s exhibitors. Twenty percent of the exhibitors were brand new to the JIS April show, and the show itself grew 13 percent in size from last year.
Jordan Tuchband, industry vice president of JIS Shows, says, “It was one of the most successful JIS April shows I’ve been a part of. We were all so excited to finally be back in Miami Beach, in a beautiful new state-of-the-art venue, and the attendance shows that we’re not the only ones.”
He adds that the new exhibitors, new attendees, and small upgrades including new and improved catering at the venue “made it a truly great return home to Miami Beach. It’s always incredible to see the jewelry industry come together with such a positive vibe, and where better than to do it than in Miami Beach?”
Looking forward, Tuchband says he and his team are excited to host the JIS October show, which will feature a partnership with the Centurion South Beach Show Pavilion, in the newly renovated venue. JIS October is the largest JIS show of the year.
But before October, JIS will be at Las Vegas Jewelry Week as JIS Exchange June 1–4 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, running alongside JCK Las Vegas.
JIS was founded in 1979 to supply the jewelry trade markets of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern United States with product in advance of the busiest buying times of the year.
Top: A scene from a recent JIS show (photo courtesy JIS)
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