CBG Announces Plans for Phoenix Show
The group has named the keynote speaker and announced a new pavilion for its next event, which is slated for September.

The CBG Experience in Phoenix, Arizona, will take place Sept. 13-16 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
Rishad Tobaccowala, a former chief strategist and chief growth officer at European advertising company Publicis Groupe, will give the keynote address.
He will share his perspective on how independent businesses can adapt, differentiate, and lead in a rapidly changing landscape.
Tobaccowala has decades of experience helping organizations navigate the intersection of data and human intuition, a concept he describes as “marrying the math and the magic.”
He has been named a “Marketing Innovator” by TIME magazine and has been inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
His most recent book, “Rethinking Work,” addresses the profound shifts reshaping business in the age of artificial intelligence and distributed work.
The Curated Designer Project (CDP), a curated pavilion showcasing independent fine jewelry designers, will continue in Phoenix.
The CDP debuted as a four-designer showcase in Miami earlier this year, had its sophomore showing in Las Vegas where it expanded to eight designers, and will expand further to include at least four additional designers in Pheonix.
“The Las Vegas event reminded us of what makes this community special,” said CBG CEO Joe Murphy.
“The quality of conversation on the floor, the genuine connections between our retail and supplier members, and the energy around the Curated Designer Project all point to an organization that is moving in the right direction. We are carrying that momentum into Phoenix.”
The CBG Experience in Phoenix will also introduce several programming changes “informed by member feedback,” organizers said.
Its traditional breakfast sessions will be replaced by facilitated Strategy Roundtables that organizers said are designed to generate more meaningful peer-to-peer dialogue among CBG’s retail and supplier members.
CBG will also debut “The Essentials,” a fully furnished and enclosed pavilion within the event floor that will spotlight emerging and value-oriented suppliers.
It will provide a structured, accessible entry point for newer brands looking to build relationships with the group’s independent retail members, organizers said.
“We listen closely to our members, and the changes coming to The CBG Experience in Phoenix reflect what we have heard,” said CBG President Matt Tratner.
“The Strategy Roundtables are designed to give our retailers a forum for honest, facilitated conversation about the challenges and opportunities they face every day. The Essentials at CBG gives emerging suppliers a dedicated, prominent home within our events, and we are excited to introduce it in Arizona.”
In place of evening programming, there will be cocktail receptions with hors d'oeuvres and activations designed to entertain, connect, and help build relationships.
For more information about The CBG Experience in Phoenix, visit the group’s website.
The Latest

The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.

Jamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.

Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.


Honest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.

QVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

The brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.

Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.

Sponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers

Cloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.

Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.

Etsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.

The “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.

Museum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.

The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.

The retailer said it had its biggest Mother’s Day ever, with strong demand for higher-priced jewelry.

“Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America” features historic and contemporary works, including a Diné squash blossom necklace.

The Armenian Jewelers Association’s East Coast chapter has also elected its 2026–2027 board of directors.

Onyx Partners has submitted a second offer to buy the department stores after its first offer fell through last year.

Solomon Brothers Jewelers has partnered with local cocktail bar Roaring Social on a new martini garnished with a tennis necklace.

Benjamin Siegel, son of President and CEO Hank Siegel, started working for the family business this week.

The new space features a modern design that blends Bulgari’s Roman heritage with San Diego’s coastal spirit.

Four men were charged in connection with the break-in and accused of stealing $365,000 in cash, jewelry, and designer goods.

André Branch has more than 25 years of experience with various brands, most recently serving as CEO of Ariana Grande’s cosmetics company.

New York-based atelier Gemlok is best known for creating the innovative “bridge” setting that became popular in the bridal market.

























