Day's Goes to Vegas

Fresh off the airplane this week, our company buyers returned from the Entertainment Capital of the World, eyes shining like diamonds and glistening with excitement from their trip.

Last Wednesday, Jeff and Kathy Corey, Owners of Day’s Jewelers, along with members of its Merchandising Department, ventured out west to attend JCK Las Vegas 2009, the largest jewelry buying event in America.

Hosted at the Sands Expo Convention Center right on the main strip of downtown Las Vegas, the jewelry industry was represented both nationally and internationally by 47 countries, from the exotic Far East and Europe to Africa and countries throughout South America.

Approximately 2,400 exhibits and 20,000 jewelers participated in the event; businesses big and small, young and mature. Each designer was grouped by category. For example, The Platinum Pavillion hosted jewelers that specialized in platinum, while the Hall of Time showcased a wide variety of luxury watches. One of Jeff’s favorites was the “Stylemaker” section, which was reserved for new designers on the rise.

Jewelers and Businessmen and women weren’t the only attendees at this happening extravaganza. Recognizable celebrities such as Kathy Ireland and Kris Jenner from the E! Channel’s “Keeping up with the Kardashians” made appearances at the event.

Miss Africa crossed continents to attend the show and the newly crowned Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was seen standing with Jacob & Co. jewelers, a celebrity favorite. President Obama, who just-so-happened to be in Sin City simultaneously, was spotted in the form of a wax figurine at Jorg Gray’s exhibit, for the purpose of promoting Gray’s Obama watch.

Vendors from all across the globe set up stations to communicate and share their brands with the rest of the jewelry world. Jeff and Kathy crossed paths with several of Day’s Jewelers most successful vendors such as Eugene Biro, Lazare Kaplan, Richard Krementz, Honora, Ritani, Lieberfarb and Artcarved.

The environment experienced by one amidst so many beautiful pieces of jewelry at the same time is inexplicable, according to Kathy Corey, whose favorite part of the show was the American Gem Trade Association’s ballroom of colored gemstones. Aside from the aesthetically pleasing sights, daily seminars provided businesses with the chance to open up their minds to the perspectives of other jewelers and share their own thoughts and feedback.

Jeff and Kathy were both featured in seminars at the show. Kathy took time to discuss the change in demographics within the jewelry industry and offer advice to retailers on how to target the millennial and baby boomer generations. Part of Kathy’s discussion is highlighted in this article by JCK.


Naturally, the luxurious jewelry event prompted Day’s Jewelers with several ideas for expanding its line of product. Day’s officially entered into an agreement with the largest diamond supplier in the world for new product to be launched this September, but the details will remain undisclosed for now. Be sure to check our website at www.daysjewelers.com for updates on this exciting new prospect to unveil in the near future!

Some other hot items that you can expect to see soon at Day’s Jewelers are Children’s sterling silver bracelets and beads, 4 Elements colored diamond jewelry and Rebecca, a high fashion Italian line.

The JCK event was most certainly the highlight of their trip, but in the evening hours after the show, the Coreys found some time to check out the glamorous sights found in the City of Lights! They dined in some fabulous restaurants, saw the classic Broadway showing of “Jersey Boys” and of course, Jeff found his way to the Roulette—though it was not difficult considering it was a part of their temporary home—the beautiful Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. One day, Jimmy Olms, Inventor of Reactor, “the Best Built Sport Watch”, chatted with the Coreys and personally invited them to attend a gathering at his home!

Overall, the representatives of Day’s Jewelers felt that the JCK show was a spectacular event that gave them the best of both worlds. Each day would bring the opportunity for jewelers from different regions of the world to come together to share ideas, educate others and learn new things from people within the same industry; and by night, there was time to meet the personalities behind the brands and talk with them 1-on-1. JCK Las Vegas gave all jewelers an opportunity for growth and development and Day’s Jewelers was both honored and delighted to be a part of the fun.


Article by Stephanie Whittier, Marketing Intern, Day's Jewelers