The Industry’s About 50/50 on Vegas This Year, Survey Shows

National Jeweler breaks down the results of its recent survey on people’s plans for the jewelry trade shows coming up in August.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

From June 16-30, National Jeweler surveyed members of the industry on their plans for the Las Vegas shows in August. Read on to see what they had to say.

New York—Respondents to National Jeweler’s recent survey are divided about traveling to Las Vegas to attend the big trade shows later this summer.

Some are eager to meet with vendors and reconnect with colleagues, while others remain cautious about COVID-19 or say the late August dates don’t work for them.

A total of 515 people took the survey, with the majority of respondents, 77 percent, identifying as retailers or wholesalers/manufacturers.

Prior to 2020—a year in which COVID-19 forced the cancellation of jewelry trade shows worldwide—most respondents (77 percent) said they were frequent or regular attendees of the jewelry trade shows typically held in Las Vegas during late May/early June.

This year, 54 percent said they still plan to attend even though the shows have been pushed back to late August. And 78 percent of those individuals are ready to go—they have their travel either partially (22 percent) or fully (56 percent) booked.

While in Vegas, survey-takers said they plan to attend: JCK Las Vegas, selected by 85 percent of respondents; Luxury by JCK, selected by 53 percent; Couture, selected by 37 percent; AGTA GemFair, selected by 36 percent; and/or the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, selected by 26 percent.

Survey-takers cited their top two reasons for making the trip this year as meeting with existing vendors or clients (65 percent), and/or to meet new vendors or clients (56 percent).

Networking/social events are also a draw, cited by 48 percent of respondents, while only 20 percent of survey-takers said education is their reason for attending Las Vegas Market Week.

Conversely, 46 percent of respondents said they are not going (32 percent) or are unsure (14 percent).

The top reason for not attending was personal concerns about COVID-19 (40 percent), followed by the feeling that the shows are not necessary for their business (28 percent), and dates not working for their schedule (27 percent).

A quarter of people who answered this question marked “other,” with respondents most often writing in that they don’t want to deal with COVID restrictions—wearing a mask seemed to be a particular pain point—or the shows are too late in the year to allow for holiday buying.

“August is the wrong time for this show,” one respondent wrote, “too late for 2021 and too early for 2022.”

Among the 14 percent who are unsure, 37 percent said they are weighing the necessity of the trade shows while 34 percent are trying to determine if the dates work for them, and 28 percent have personal COVID-19 concerns.