JA New York Returns With a Buzz

The jewelry trade show took place at the Javits Center from Aug. 8-10.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

The JA New York Summer show took place Aug. 8-10 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. It was the first JA New York show held since the start of the pandemic.

New York—For the first time since fall 2019, the JA New York show happened, in a city silenced in the early days of the pandemic and in a space that, up until a month ago, was being used as a mass vaccination site.

JA New York Summer took place Aug. 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, with organizers reporting in a post-show release—and attendees confirming—that the show was busy.

Buyers filled the show floor and were placing orders with exhibiting brands, designers, and manufacturers. According to JA NY, some at the show said business, “felt like the 1990s.”

Attendees and organizers also remarked on how happy they were to reconnect with friends and colleagues, some of whom they hadn’t seen in person in 18 months or more.

Paul Schneider, owner of jewelry store Twist in Portland, Oregon, was among those saying it felt good to attend a trade show again.

“While we’ve continued to do robust business throughout the pandemic, having the opportunity to meet with people in person is so important to maintaining our most critical relationships, and walking shows is paramount to discovering new collections and brands,” the jeweler told JA NY organizers.

Former JCK magazine publisher Mark Smelzer, who is now chief content executive at Jewelers Mutual and publisher of The Zing Report, also remarked on the necessity of trade shows and connecting in person.

“Despite all of the challenges of the last year and a half, it was great to see the show floor filled with buyers, to see people buying and selling, and to see friends in person after far too long,” he said.

“Being at JA New York for two full days was simply proof that the need for face-to-face encounters endures.”