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
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
