LAS VEGAS, NV, May 29, 2008 – Hundreds of the industry’s best high-end independent retailers have enjoyed upscale events and evening entertainment including a performance by Comedian Dana Carvey who brought down the house at a standing room only event for LUXURY & PREMIERE exhibitors and retailers. 

Retailers who have been in attendance during the first two days of LUXURY & PREMIERE, represented Aucoin Hart Jewelers, Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelry, Birks & Mayors Jewelers, Borsheim’s, Bighams Jewelers, Childress, Congress Jewelers, DeScenza Diamonds, Joe Escobar Jewelers, Lux Bond Green, Scheherazade Jewelers, Smythe Jewelers and hundreds of others.

The second day of the event started with an enlightening presentation about the luxury goods market and the affluent consumer. John Clarkin, National Sales Director of W Magazine, presented consumer research on “Connecting with the Luxury Consumer.”  Clarkin revealed that, “Two percent of US households, represent 28% of income in the country, making a strong point that the US Luxury Market is fairly insulated from the current downturn in the economy.   Following his presentation, Clarkin invited a panel of retailers onto the stage to offer insight into Customer Retention Programs, how Internet sales affect their business, and how they train their sales staff to overcome negativity.  The panel 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. 

In the evening, retailers enjoyed eclectic cuisines offered throughout the Venetian and Palazzo Hotels as part of the Dine Out program.  Hundreds of attendees and exhibitors then capped off the LUXURY & PREMIERE evening at the Late Night Lounge at the 40/40 Club. 

On Thursday morning, Andrea Hill of Hill Management Consulting and Training presented “Differentiation Blueprint: Using Strategy and Brand as Tools to Set Your Business Apart.”  LUXURY & PREMIERE 2008 will be closing on at 6:00 pm as the 220 exhibitors who participated move their Salons to the JCK Las Vegas Show Floor.  Overall, the intimate event was very well received by retailers and exhibitors alike. 

“The first two days of LUXURY & PREMIERE were great,” said Sonny Sethi of Tara & Sons.  “We launched the Vintage Collection to a great response.”  Bellarri Adleman of Bellarri said, “We just love this venue, and have cemented relationships and built new ones during LUXURY & PREMIERE.”

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 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.