Invitations have been sent out to the industry’s major retailers and high-volume jewelers around the country for the inaugural JCK NYC Invitational event taking place at the Hilton Hotel from March 5-7, 2006. This event will kick off with an impressive roster of speakers, coupled with a showcase of 300 hand-selected exhibiting manufacturers. Perfectly suited to meet the business needs of the industry, JCK Events said in a statement. 

“The first-ever JCK NYC Invitational promises to offer the perfect time and place for the industry’s major retailers and high volume buyers to interact and transact with a hand-selected group of premiere manufacturers,” said Mary Forte, president and CEO of Zale’s Corp. and member of the event’s new advisory board. “We have committed to sending buyers, and we are excited to be working with the JCK Events team on launching this new event, and providing a wonderful venue for the exhibitors and major retailers to meet and conduct business during the winter buying months.”

The event boasts a retail advisory board that consists of some of the strongest and most powerful retail brands in the jewelry industry, including Zale Corp., Sears Roebuck & Co., Fred Meyer Jewelers, Inc, Kings Jewelry, Sterling, and Helzberg Diamonds. The Board will aid in delivering an event that meets the needs of buyers from around the world. 

The three-day event will include access to private meeting spaces, featured presentations from world-renowned speakers, and deluxe amenities. Rudy Giuliani, Jack Welch, and Alyce Alston, CEO of De Beers LV USA, will deliver keynote presentations each day of the event. The former New York City mayor, Giuliani will give the opening keynote address and present his philosophy about business operations and cause and effect relationships. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric, will offer his insight into big business and successful leadership. Alston will discuss “De Beers in Retail: A New Experience.”
 
Designed to attract the industry’s major retailers and high-volume buyers, The JCK NYC Invitational will feature new designs and trends including what’s hot in colored gemstone and diamond jewelry, engagement settings, fine finished metal jewelry, pearls, sterling silver, and watches as well as technology and business services to run a more successful retail operation. 
 
More than 300 designers and manufacturers will be exhibiting at the show, including Aaura, A.V. Diamonds, Croton Watch Co., E.F.D., EMA-RAMA, G.I.A., Hot Diamonds, House of Baguettes, Kassoy, M. Fabrikant, Universal Fine Jewelry, Universal Pacific/Pluczenik, approximately 35 companies within the Plumb Club pavilion, and a several companies from Hong Kong, Italy, Germany and Israel.
 
There will be several private, invitation-only evening events where retailers will be able to network and enjoy the sights and sounds of New York City. On March 5, select attendees are invited to an exclusive evening of cocktails, dinner, and live music at Manhattan’s premier cabaret lounge, The Café Carlyle, hosted by Jewlery.com. On the evening of Monday, March 6 the Plumb Club will host an invitation-only social event from 7:00 pm – 10:00 p.m. at the Cipriani Restaurant. 
 
Adding to the excitement of the inaugural JCK NYC Invitational event is the anticipation of the announcement of the 8 Annual JCK Industry Fund award winners. Over the years, The JCK Industry Fund has dispersed over $2.8 million in grants to individuals, groups, and associations who work towards the betterment of the overall industry. During the March event JCK Events and the JCK Publishing Group will present $400,000 to several organizations who have applied for assistance. The 2005 recipients of the grants include the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the American Gem Society, Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, and Jewelers of America.

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