Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience Show
The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

The show, exclusive to CBG members, is set for Sept. 8-10 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Florida.
“CBG continues to deliver events that combine exclusive buying, valuable education, and unmatched networking,” said Andie Weinman, founder of CBG.
“This year’s Tampa Experience is designed to give our members actionable strategies and tools to succeed in a rapidly changing market.”
Bethenny Frankel, an entrepreneur and influencer, will be the keynote speaker.
Frankel is the founder of Skinnygirl, a lifestyle brand known for its low-calorie cocktails and other products.
She will share how she built her brand and how jewelers can apply the same strategies to stand out in today’s market.
The Tampa Experience Show will also include education on artificial intelligence-driven business solutions. Leading tech innovators will explore how AI is transforming marketing, sourcing, and sales, as well as provide practical ways to boost efficiency and drive new business.
A highlight are the industry panels on navigating global changes.
Discussions will touch on tariffs and other critical forces reshaping the jewelry landscape, the organization said, along with what independent jewelers need to know now.
“The Tampa Experience has the kind of connections that move business forward,” said Matthew Tratner, who was named president of CBG late last month.
“Our AI-driven content is just the beginning. We are building towards something truly special for retailers and the diamond sector that only CBG can deliver. Our goal is to give independent jewelers not just tools, but a competitive edge they cannot find anywhere else.”
Independent jewelers who are interested in CBG membership or a first-time show experience are encouraged to contact Tratner for details at 917-940-5513 or matt@cbgi.org.
For more information, visit the CBG website.
The Latest

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

A 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.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.


It 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.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

José Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.

























