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JA New York Winter opens, with extra incentive
The JA New York Winter show opened Saturday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, with an added twist: thousands in free cash to 18 lucky buyers to spend at the show.
This year, show organizers introduced daily drawings that offer winners extra cash to spend with exhibitors, with the show raffling off a total of $36,000.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, retailers who entered the free raffle gathered in the Inner Circle lounge for the drawing. Both days, six buyers won a total of $2,500 in open to buy to spend on-site with one exhibitor at the show.
Monday is the last day of the raffle, and six winners will pocket $1,000 each.
On Sunday, the second day of the four-day show, JA New York Show Director Drew Lawsky noted a very positive buzz on the show floor.
Buyers were walking the aisles and also taking advantage of the educational sessions being offered by Jewelers of America. Sunday’s topics included store security, retailing in the “Internet age,” custom design and how to make a store’s bridal business more profitable.
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The schedule for Monday includes sessions on social media, diversifying a store’s supply chain and increasing sales with designer jewelry.
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“There’s been really good energy. We are excited for two more buying days,” Lawsky said Sunday. “Because of the weather being so bad this winter, the industry could certainly use a break and have some good commerce being done.”
The early start and extra day at this edition of the show--JA traditionally begins on a Sunday and runs until Tuesday--is due to the close start of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which is running from March 5 to 9. The extended JA dates gives exhibitors and buyers traveling to Hong Kong additional time to spend at the New York show.
JA New York Winter concludes Tuesday.
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