LAS VEGAS, NV, May 28, 2008 – During the opening day of LUXURY & PREMIERE, being held this week at the Venetian Hotel Resort Casino in Las Vegas, Dr. Jim Taylor, Vice Chairman of The Harrison Group, one of the country’s most respected marketing and branding firms provided jewelry retailers with insight on how the economy will affect their businesses in the coming year.  The Harrison Group recently completed a landmark study with JCK Magazine, that will be released in July, looking inside the American jewelry box.

 “Now is the time to be smart as a retailer.  Understand that an ideal salesperson in a jewelry store is not selling merchandise, they are selling emotion to a sophisticated and intelligent audience. Even in a down economy, consumers love to celebrate luxurious purchases and have a desire to acquire,” Dr. Taylor said.  “In order to show authenticity and respect to consumers, salespeople should become docents, offer details about the product, teach the customer, and show the love for their jobs.”  
 
On Tuesday evening during a dinner celebration, Emmy Award Winning Comedian Dana Carvey entertained over 950 jewelry professionals with his quick humor and wonderful impressions including George Bush and The Church Lady.  At 10 pm, retailers flowed into the infamous 40/40 Club at the Palazzo Hotel for a fun time at the Late Night Lounge.
 
The exciting networking events continued on Wednesday, with a Breakfast & Keynote presentation.  John Clarkin, National Sales Director of W Magazine led a panel discussion on “Connecting with the Luxury Consumer.”  Panelists included Garrett Rudd of Scheherazade Jewelers, Minneapolis, MN, Aida Alvarez of Birks & Mayors Jewelers, Tamarac, FL; Mark Motes of Smythe Jewelers, Timonium, MD; and Sean Moore of Borsheims, Omaha, NE.

A gourmet lunch was served on the Salon floors, in addition to many other amenities that were available to all attendees throughout the day.  At 4:30 pm, AGS will be hosting a Signature Drink Cocktail Reception in the Foyer.  In the evening, retailers can enjoy several outstanding restaurants in
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the Venetian and new Palazzo Hotels during the return of the Dine-Out Program.  Participating restaurants include B&B by Mario Batali, Bouchon, Dos Caminos, Delmonico’s, Carnevino by Mario Batali, Morels, TAO, Table Ten, and Trotter by Charlie Trotter.   

On Friday, May 30th, JCK Las Vegas will open at the Sands Expo & Convention Center/Venetian Hotel Resort Casino. JCK Las Vegas will host 3,100 exhibitors, 21,000+ retailers and offer several spectacular events including a high energy opening night Welcome Reception and Fashion Show at Caesars Palace in the Augustus Ballroom, an incredible Keynote Presentation by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, the Design Center featuring Eight New Rising Stars, dozens of specialty pavilions including the “VicenzaOro Pavilion at JCK,” several special networking events and fundraising benefits, and ten tracks of conference sessions. 

The 6th Annual Swiss Watch by JCK will be held in The Venetian Hotel Resort Casino from Friday, May 30 until Tuesday, June 3, 2008.  Swiss Watch by JCK is a collection of the world’s most legendary Swiss watch brands including Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Bulgari, Chopard, Corum, Ebel, Franck Muller, Gucci, Hermes, IWC, Maurice Lacroix, Mont Blanc, Omega, Piaget, Rado, Swatch, Longines, Tag Heuer, Tissot, Ulysse Nardin and Zenith.

ABOUT JCK EVENTS:
The series of JCK Events are produced by JCK, the leading producer of trade events in the fine jewelry industry.  The JCK Events are designed to serve the worldwide jewelry industry by offering the most comprehensive and complete buying and selling opportunities on a business-to-business basis.  Upcoming events include LUXURY & PREMIERE to be held Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday May 29, 2008 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas; The 17th Annual JCK Las Vegas to be held Friday, May 30 through Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at the Sands Expo Center/Venetian Resort Hotel Casino; the 6th Annual Swiss Watch by JCK to be held May 30 through June 3, 2008 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas; JCK New Delhi to be held July 5-8, 2008 at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi, India; JCK Toronto to be held August 10-12, 2008 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collections by JCK to be held September 24-25, 2008 at the Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada; and  LUXURY Bermuda to be held March 15-18, 2009 at the Fairmont Southampton Resort in Bermuda.  For more information on any of the JCK Events, please visit us at http://www.jckshows.com/ or simply call 1-800-257-3626.