Registration Opens for Instore Show
In its second year, the trade show is returning to the Chicago area.

Presented by Instore magazine and in partnership with MJSA and the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference 2024, the Instore Show is in its second year and will be returning next year to the site of its inaugural event, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
The show is slated for Aug. 11-12, 2024.
Attendees can register for a free badge at the show’s website.
The publication described the show as the gateway for retailers, managers, and buyers to connect with over 200 booths of vendors and service providers, discover the latest industry trends, and immerse themselves in an Instore-approved conference program.
The 2024 show boasts several interactive network opportunities including “Cram Day,” a full day of pre-show educational offerings; bench jeweler contest “Bench Pressure Challenge;” a welcome reception on Saturday, and the “Play It Cool Party,” an evening of networking and celebrating the winners of the magazine’s 2024 “America’s Coolest Stores” competition.
“What a great show, a great place to collaborate with retailers and the top vendors in the nation,” said William Jones IV, COO at Sissy’s Log Cabin, a fine jeweler with locations in Arkansas and Tennessee.
“The Instore Show is a great event to bring staff to experience what it’s like to run and inventory your store. With the talks, the vendors, and the Chicago experience, it is a must visit.”
SmartWork Media, which owns the Instore Show, originally put on the Smart Jewelry Show, which had its final run in 2016.
Matthijs Braakman, CEO of SmartWork Media, said retailers and exhibitors had been requesting the show’s return for “several years.”
Having seen success with the Instore Show in its first run last year, drawing in retailers from the Midwest and across the country, the company is bringing it back for buyers to stock up on inventory before the holidays.
“[Retailers and exhibitors] especially enjoy hearing the success stories of other area retailers and having the ability to place their orders easily and efficiently,” Braakman said.
“At bigger shows, retailers just can’t get the face time they want with the suppliers they’ve done business with for years. The Instore Show also offers a big punch of fun in a venue that’s easily accessible and close to Chicago for after-hours dining and entertainment.”
Karen Hollis of K. Hollis Jewelers in Batavia, Illinois, praised the show, saying she didn’t realize how much she missed it until it was back.
“I loved all the different break-out sessions and found that there was something for everyone in every session offered. I found a couple of new designers that I’m really excited about too,” Hollis said.
“It is always great to see fellow store owners and staff at these events. It is fun sharing ideas and thoughts about our amazing industry.”
For more information about the Instore Show 2024, visit the show’s website or direct questions to info@theinstoreshow.com.
To learn more about 2024 exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, direct questions to exhibit@theinstoreshow.com.
The Latest

Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.

From how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.

Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.


The manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.

President Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.

The watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.

IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.

The Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.

From cool-toned metal to ring stacks, Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights the jewelry trends she spotted at the Grammy Awards.

The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.

From tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.

The “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”

The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.





























