InStore ‘Cram Day’ To Focus on Lab-Grown Diamond Education
The limited-seating learning event precedes its second annual trade show, which starts Aug. 11.
"Cram Day" will take place Aug. 10, the day before the start of the show, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
A seminar on lab-grown diamonds presented by GIA Alumni Collective’s Continued Education program will headline the event.
Lisa Kennedy, a GIA senior subject specialist in gemology, will present an explanation and evaluation of the latest in lab-grown diamond education and identification.
The seminar will cover common lab-grown diamond production methods, such as high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
It will also review U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that define key terms and how to use them.
In addition, the presentation will go over services, methods, and instruments that can help distinguish between lab-grown and natural diamonds, including GIA Laboratory Reports and the GIA iD100 gem testing device.
The seminar will also include a hands-on element, allowing attendees to examine diamonds under microscopes.
Two sessions will be offered.
Seating is limited to 50 attendees per session.
Cram Day will offer two additional education tracks curated by Instore, featuring speakers representing successful jewelry retailers and the industry’s top consultants, it said.
Sessions will cover the “critical topics” for small business owners, Instore said, including strategic planning, digital marketing, security, hiring and retaining strong employees, selling skills, and more.
The “Expert Guidance” track will cover topics to help independent jewelry store owners improve their stores, and the “Retail Excellence” track will feature panels of retail owners and managers sharing best practices for store success and profitability.
The Cram Day Conference program requires a separate ticket purchase and includes lunch.
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 take place Aug. 11-12 at the site of its inaugural event, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
To register for a free show badge and Cram Day ticket, click here.
For more about 2024 exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, direct questions to exhibit@theinstoreshow.com.
The Latest
The grading lab said the search for her successor is underway.
In this special op-ed, designer Jules Kim calls on big brands to collaborate with independent creators instead of copying their designs.
Several jewelry designers are lending a helping hand to charities in Los Angeles amid the raging wildfires.
The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
A pioneering figure in gemology, he is remembered for his spirit of generosity, curiosity, and joy.
The peak selling days leading up to Christmas did not meet the jewelry retailer’s expectations.
Schneider brings over 20 years of luxury and fashion industry experience to his role as a key member of the brand’s global leadership team.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Gemfields said the Zambian government revoked the 2019 suspension of the tax with no warning.
With versions in 18-karat gold and platinum, the wearables company is blending health technology and fine jewelry.
The executive brings more than two decades of industry experience to the role.
The New York City-based retailer is bringing its curation of jewels to a pop-up shop at Love Binetti in Palm Beach, Florida.
Created by JA and DCA, the fund is collecting money for jewelry businesses damaged by the wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Adrien Brody received his first Golden Globe while wearing the “Mozi” brooch, which depicts a spill of traditional Chinese calligraphy ink.
The pair will work together to support independent retailers in India with marketing assets, training materials, and other tools.
Officers in Champlain, New York valued the jewels, if genuine, at nearly $30,000.
The “Moonlight Rhapsody” collection is overflowing with gemstones, from raw opal to morganite and spessartite.
The artist collaborated with industry creatives on the project, which features five fictional stories and five corresponding paintings.
Nine jewelers donated jewels for a raffle to support the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Miss Piggy shared her thoughts on being fabulous, the importance of accessories, and how to be your own cheerleader.
“Promise by Effy” includes fashion jewelry and engagement rings.
The Texas-based jeweler is closing all three locations.
Zendaya’s ring, featuring an east-west set elongated cushion-cut diamond, is said to be from British designer Jessica McCormack.
Micro-influencers, customer reviews, and shoppable videos are going to be key to getting customers’ attention, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Garnet is comprised of a group of minerals, giving those with a birthday in January options when it comes to their birthstone.
The annual award, created in memory of business coach William “Wag” Wagner, went to a retailer in Fairfax, Virginia.
Retailers and vendors can ask customers to make a donation by rounding up to the next dollar at checkout.