Every August, Canada’s finest jewelers converge on Toronto to attend a buying show that may not rival the size of its sister event in Las Vegas, but makes up for that discrepancy with an intimate vibe and plenty of national pride.
“It’s truly a Canadian show,” says John Tierney, event director for JCK Toronto.
Formerly known as Jewellery World Expo, the show—which JCK’s parent company, Reed Exhibitions, purchased from the Canadian Jewellers Association in 2001—was rebranded as JCK Toronto four years ago, when it moved back to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It returns to that downtown location Aug. 7–9 for its 47th year of supplying retail jewelers from British Columbia to the coast of Newfoundland.
Judging by business trends, all signs point to a robust buying atmosphere. “There does seem to be a trend of retailers needing to replenish their inventories, and there does seem to be a more positive consumer sentiment,” says J. David Ritter, president and CEO of the Canadian Jewellers Association. However, he points out that rising metal and diamond prices are driving retailers to new products that allow them “to continue to hit certain price points.”
To draw attention to the show’s wealth of new styles—like the Maple Leaf Diamonds Bridal Collection featuring locally sourced gems by Corona Jewellery, a major Canadian jewelry manufacturer returning to the event after a three-year hiatus—show organizers have established an awards program that will ask each retail attendee to vote for the Best New Product among a host of participating exhibitors. Voting will be based on salability, craftsmanship, originality, and impact. The winner will be announced Aug. 9.