Events & AwardsAug 03, 2023
See the 2023 CASE Award WinnersEvents & AwardsAug 17, 2023
Instore Show Concludes First Run
The jewelry trade show happened Aug. 13-15 in Rosemont, Illinois.
The inaugural Instore Show was held Aug. 13-15 in Rosemont, Illinois.
Rosemont, Ill.—Seven years after the last “Smart” jewelry trade show, Instore Magazine has concluded its first Instore Show.
The Instore Show 2023 was held Aug. 13-15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The trade show co-located with the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference, which took place Aug. 11-12.
Also on Aug. 12, Instore and MJSA held a day of educational programming, called “Cram Day.”
MJSA also oversaw the show’s “Bench Pressure Challenge” on Aug. 13 and 14.
The competition consisted of two challenges revolving around “mystery boxes” of materials.
Shayna Egan of Green Lake Jewelry Works in Seattle won the “Mystery Box Challenge.”
Alongside two other bench jewelers, Egan was tasked with designing a piece using the box of materials ahead of the trade show. The jewelers then presented their finished product to an audience at the show.
The second challenge, the “Timed Challenge,” happened on-site.
Jimmy Butts of Sissy’s Log Cabin in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, won the challenge, which involved resizing, setting, and finishing a piece using given materials.
The challenge had to be completed within three hours.
Related stories will be right here …
The Instore Show 2023 was held Aug. 13-15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The trade show co-located with the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference, which took place Aug. 11-12.
Also on Aug. 12, Instore and MJSA held a day of educational programming, called “Cram Day.”
MJSA also oversaw the show’s “Bench Pressure Challenge” on Aug. 13 and 14.
The competition consisted of two challenges revolving around “mystery boxes” of materials.
Shayna Egan of Green Lake Jewelry Works in Seattle won the “Mystery Box Challenge.”
Alongside two other bench jewelers, Egan was tasked with designing a piece using the box of materials ahead of the trade show. The jewelers then presented their finished product to an audience at the show.
The second challenge, the “Timed Challenge,” happened on-site.
Jimmy Butts of Sissy’s Log Cabin in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, won the challenge, which involved resizing, setting, and finishing a piece using given materials.
The challenge had to be completed within three hours.
Other highlights included the “Play It Cool” party that honored winners of Instore’s annual “America’s Coolest Stores” awards and keynote speaker Shane Decker. He delivered a presentation titled, “How to Double Your Average Ticket Sale.”
Educational sessions were held throughout the show, facilitated by Instore columnists and various retailers on topics spanning store environment, overcoming customer objections, and prepping for the fourth quarter based on retail trends.
“It was great to see the pages of Instore come to life with so many of our columnists and peers present for the show,” said Eileen McClelland, managing editor of the magazine.
Exhibitor Kimberly Collins of Kimberly Collins Gems remarked, “On opening day, we did triple the goal we set for ourselves for the entire show. Retailers restocked some loose colored gemstones, including a huge blue zircon from Cambodia and teal sapphires.
“We also sold a beautiful ruby tennis necklace, and there was also lots of interest in rainbow jewelry and Barbie pink.”
Alan Goodheart of Goodheart’s Jewelry in Overland Park, Kansas, said, “It was great to reconnect with people. We haven’t been to a show since before the pandemic. We’ve had two great days of buying and the party was amazing—the food, the music, the excitement.”
The Instore Show will return to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois next year from Aug. 11-13.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
PodcastsMay 20, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
Weekly QuizMay 14, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Medal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
CrimeMay 13, 2026
JSA’s 2025 Crime Report Shows ‘Concerning’ Rise in ViolenceWhile the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.
IndependentsMay 13, 2026
New Orleans Jeweler Closing Canal Place StoreJack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.
SourcingMay 13, 2026
Smithsonian Acquires ‘Winston Red’ Diamond PaintingReena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.
TrendsMay 13, 2026
State of Design: Only the Innovative Will SurviveThe price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
