Retailer attendance at the inaugural JCK Tucson 2014, held Feb. 3–8 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, was strong—to the tune of employees from 1,800 stores visiting—and ended on a positive note for many. About half of these stores told organizer Reed Events that they do not attend JCK Las Vegas, automatically making them potential new client contacts for many of the 129 exhibitors who showed lines.

Exhibitor David Heston told JCK that he picked up several new accounts, as did newer designer Loretta Castoro, who spoke seriously with more than 30 different stores about her line of high-end colored stone jewelry. Plus, industry veteran and well-known colored stone jewelry designer Laura Gibson showed her work for the first time in six years. “I’m taking orders and hoping to pick up some new accounts,” she told JCK on the second day of the show.

“We could not have asked for a better first show here in Tucson,” said Yancy Weinrich, group vice president, JCK Events, to the media this week. “The energy throughout the show was remarkable.”

Retailers told JCK that they enjoyed the range of products available and the educational seminars, which Manuel Wiesnar of Joyería Montecarlo in Zaragoza, Mexico, called “the unexpected highlight of the trip.” He continued, “They allowed for us to meet other buyers and develop best practices that we will now implement at our store. We have attended the shows here in Tucson for years but have never had an experience quite like we did at JCK Tucson.”

JCK Tucson 2015 will take place Feb. 2–7, 2015, again at Starr Pass.

JCK