The Atlanta Jewelry Show, held August 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, experienced a 4% increase in attendance from retail stores across the Southeast region and beyond, show organizers report.

The show’s “You Buy, You Fly” buyer loyalty program continued to experience immense growth, awarding more than 3.3 million SkyMiles to retailers based on their orders written at the show. The Atlanta-based Southern Jewelry Travelers Association, sponsor and producer of the Atlanta Jewelry Show, continues to upgrade the show’s buyer services, says Carol Young, SJTA executive director.

“We are continually finding new ways to make the Atlanta Jewelry Show more comfortable, convenient, and cost-effective for our sales representative members and independent jewelry retailers,” Young says. “Our newest initiative, the ‘You Buy, You Fly’ program, saw tremendous growth during the August Show with exhibitors giving away one million more Delta SkyMiles than the February show for a total of 5.5 million for the year. This loyalty program together with the tremendous selection of new product from quality exhibitors, a dynamic educational program, and the show’s well known ‘Southern Hospitality’ make it the must attend event for Southeastern jewelry retailers.”

The You Buy, You Fly program, the only trade show loyalty program of its kind in the jewelry industry, provides exhibitors with Delta SkyMiles to award to their buyers based on orders written at the show. Other show highlights included the South Sea Cultured Pearl exhibit, the only exhibit of its kind in the United States; SJTA U, the show’s educational program, with a keynote address by Billy Riggs, the world’s first and only “disillusionist;” the “Tanks on Us” reward program, which provided pre-registered attendees with a $15 gas card at the show; and the Fabulous Fifties Buyer Gala on Sunday evening.

“This was our first time at the Atlanta Jewelry show, and we were impressed by everything,” said Dan Hoem, Dan’s L & L Fine Jewelry, Inc., Waukeshaw, Wisc. “The show was big enough to offer the selection we were looking for. We came across new vendors and ones we’ve worked with before. We also enjoyed the perks like the Delta SkyMiles.”

“I thought the August show was very good—as usual,” said Gary Chandler, Chandlery Jewelers, Hopewell, Va. “The show is very easy to shop. “It’s easy to get flights to Atlanta, easy to get around once you’re there and you can stay nearby.”

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association is the nation’s oldest association for independent jewelry representatives and the official sponsor and producer of the Atlanta Jewelry Show. For more information, write to SJTA at 4 Executive Park Drive, Suite 1202, Atlanta, GA 30329; Phone: 1.800.241.0399 or 404.634.3434; Fax: 404.634.4663; Email: info@atlantajewelryshow.com or visit the SJTA Web site at www.atlantajewelryshow.com.

JCK