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Events & AwardsJul 20, 2015
5 wearable tech brands to exhibit at JA New York
Among the offerings will be a wellness ring that measures sleep, rest and active life and a bracelet that filters the wearer’s mobile notifications.
Pictured here is iFit’s new iFit Duo, a double-sided activity watch the brand is launching at the JA New York Summer show.
New York--There’s a new component to this year’s JA New York Summer show that will introduce buyers to wearable technology.
Called “Smart Jewels,” the initiative will bring five companies that offer wearable technology to JA New York’s show floor, many of them carrying pieces that incorporate health, wellness and connectivity into jewelry design.
The five companies are: iFit, Oura and Viawear, Beacon & Lively and Looksee Labs.
iFit is launching its new iFit Duo at the show, a reversible, double-sided activity watch engineered for both business and play. It features a timepiece on one side and an LCD screen on the other, displaying real-time activity statistics and fitness data.
Oura is bringing a wellness ring that has the ability to measure how the wearer’s body responds to sleep, rest and active life, and offering personalized guidance on how to improve in those areas.
Buyers also will be able to check out Viawear’s new “Tyia” bracelet, which aims to simplify the wearer’s life by filtering mobile notifications and tracking activity “in a piece of jewelry that is attractive enough to wear all day, and during an evening out.”
Beacon & Lively has created a piece of jewelry designed to keep the wearer “effortlessly connected in a way that is stylish and comfortable” while Looksee Labs is introducing smart jewelry that delivers custom notifications and an always-on display that showcases slideshows, customized photos and real-time information.
“We are very excited to showcase these cutting-edge companies at our upcoming Summer show,” said Drew Lawsky, group show director for JA New York shows. “The popularity of these types of products among consumers is on the rise, and we’re excited to be among the first to facilitate relationships between our loyal retailers and these five ground-breaking additions to our exhibitor community.”
Also part of the upcoming JA New York Summer Show, scheduled for July 26 to 28 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, is an educational lineup that will cover a variety of topics and issues in the industry.
Highlighting the program is a breakfast presentation with Benjamin Smithee, chief strategy officer at Relevents, a company that produces business events. Smithee’s seminar, “Understanding the Millennial Culture,” will take place Monday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
While the keynote is slated for Monday, the educational seminars officially begin Sunday, July 26.
Among the lineup for the day is
“Diamonds: The Ethics of Lab-Grown vs. Mined,” with National Jeweler Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff, Watchmaker’s Diamonds & Jewelry President J. Dennis Petimezas, Ronnie Vanderlinden, president of the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America, and Dorothee Gizenga, executive director of the Diamond Development Initiative.
“Diamond Grading Reports: The Jewelers’ Ticking Time Bomb,” which will be presented by Terry Chandler, president and CEO of the Diamond Council of America, from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Also on Sunday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. is “Benchmark Your Business to Profitability,” with Matthew Tratner, director of membership and sales at Jewelers of America.
In addition JA’s Amanda Gizzi will discuss “Trend Forecasting: Discovering the Top Trends to Increase Sales” on Monday from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.
Later that day, Hayley Henning, vice president of sales, marketing and development at True North Gems, will cover “The Secrets of Selling Color” from 3:35 to 4:35 p.m.
A complete schedule of the educational program can be found on the JA New York website.
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