LAS VEGAS – In its return to the Las Vegas Strip and its 30th year, JCK exceeded the attendance numbers from the pre-pandemic 2019 show sooner than expected.
More than 30,000 people attended the jewelry expo June 10-13, operated by RX Global, with The Venetian Expo welcoming more than 1,800 exhibitors. Millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry, gold, diamonds and other precious metals and stones were showcased to more than 17,000 attendees from 130 countries on the show floor that was enhanced this year for ease of navigation and creating inspirational moments.
“It was a celebratory and momentous year for the JCK community, which concluded with a round of applause from show exhibitors across all of the neighborhoods, just like the first edition 30 years prior in 1992,” RX Jewelry Group’s Group Vice President Sarin Bachmann stated. “This edition came full circle with high energy, enthusiasm, and most importantly, connection and commerce. This year we saw an increase in attendance, quality lead generation, customer success on-site and amplified optimism for the future of innovation and trends in the jewelry industry, as well as the importance to face-to-face events.”
JCK organizers considered the show a sparkling success, with exhibitors and attendees bringing high energy and a strong sense of camaraderie to the show floor as they conducted business face to face and discovered new trends in the industry.
The 2022 JCK programming was focused on creating diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) within the industry. It was the first year that JCK sponsored the Black In Jewelry Coalition (BIJC). Collections from six BIJC members were featured in JCK’s Design Collective, including collections from Adore Adorn, Jam + Rico, JNCY Jewelers, Christian Stone, Made by Malyia and The Personal Jeweler.
“We learned about the Black in Jewelry Coalition through the JCK Industry Fund which was established in 1997 and has since awarded over $7 million toward program grants that drive sustainable improvements across the fine jewelry industry,” Bachmann said. “In 2020, JCK designated a specific grant for furthering diversity within the jewelry industry by supporting BIPOC initiatives. BIJC applied and was awarded the 2021 JCK Industry Fund Diversity & Inclusivity Grant. JCK also offered the opportunity to showcase BIPOC designers in the Design Collective at the show. This provided a platform for talented designers to be discovered by new retailers while forming new, long-lasting relationships.”
JCK included a DE&I-focused panel discussion – dedicated to attracting new customers. At the Generating Impact Community Breakfast, held by JCK’s partner the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA), Karine Bah Tahé, Founder and CEO of the Black woman-owned Blue Level Training, an enterprise focused on DE&I, held a presentation with remarks from WJA’s 2020 Veteran Grant winner Latoya Boyd.
Complementing the glamour of the jewelry on display were 10 social media activations, including diamond-themed photo opportunities, engaged attendees, boosting engagement on JCK’s social media channels. Of those activations, CrowdReactive produced three, allowing attendees to use a photo booth, put themselves on the cover of JCK Magazine and see the content created by others at the event.
“There were 897 pieces of content created in activation booths and 1,052 posts on Instagram and Twitter using our hashtag,” Bachmann said. “In total, #JCKLasVegas has over 47,458 posts on IG. These stats are continuing to increase daily.”
Along with CrowdReactive’s activations, JCK’s partner KicksBySammy created mural backdrops and promotional items for the event and the “Hamilton Remix” performance, featuring current and former Hamilton on Broadway cast members, including Miguel Cervantes who is the current Alexander Hamilton. The remix performance was followed by an after-party.
JCK 2023 will take place June 2-5, 2023, at The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas.
Reach Sarin Bachmann at sarin.bachmann@rxglobal.com
