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PGI Calls for Entries for 2nd Annual Platinum Innovation Awards March 07, 2011 (0 comments)

New York, NY—Platinum Guild International (PGI-USA), in conjunction with JCK Las Vegas, is calling for entries for the second annual JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards, to be held at JCK Las Vegas, June 3-6 at Mandalay Bay.

Following the success of last year’s competition, which included an impressive 75 entries from the nation’s top jewelry brands, this year will again celebrate and reward innovative platinum design in both bridal and fashion jewelry. 

Entry deadline is April 6, 2011.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Platinum Innovation Awards back to JCK Las Vegas,” said Huw Daniel, president of PGI-USA.  “The overwhelming response and passion from last year’s participants has inspired some exciting evolutions to this year’s competition. We are eager to see the ingenuity continue, and look forward to helping our industry partners build their platinum sales through innovative design.”

Contest categories were selected by top U.S. retailers, and were based on platinum products they would like to see in their stores.  This year’s contest categories include:

·       Vintage-Inspired Platinum Engagement Ring

·       Modern Platinum Engagement Ring

·       Entry Platinum Engagement Ring (semi-mounts under $2500 retail)

·       Platinum Wedding Band

·       Platinum Earrings

·       Platinum Fashion Ring

Entrants in each category will instantly become “nominees” into this year’s competition and have their designs professionally photographed and featured on PGI-USA’s consumer website, http://www.preciousplatinum.com, while they wait to hear if they've won the Platinum Innovation Awards’ prize package, valued at $50,000.  Contest judges will be an elite panel of top editors and retailers attending JCK Las Vegas.

Uneek Jewelry Designs' platinum snowflake pendant was one of last year's winners.

“JCK is thrilled to once again have Platinum Guild International’s Platinum Innovation Awards as part of this year’s event,” said Yancy Weinrich, industry vice president of JCK Events.  “We praise their efforts to promote the beauty of platinum not only to consumers, but to retailers at point-of-sale. With JCK’s new home at Mandalay Bay this year, the Platinum Innovation Awards will offer excitement and fun for retailers as well as honor exhibitors who excel in designing platinum jewelry.”

Winners in each of the five categories will be announced on June 5, 2011, and will receive a prize package valued at $50,000, including:

·       Official JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards trophy

·       Inclusion in the Design Gallery of PGI’s consumer website,www.preciousplatinum.com, which receives more than 40,000 unique visitors per month

·       Winning pieces featured in PGI’s national advertising campaign

·       Custom-designed store window display, featuring the winning platinum design, at a store of the winner’s choice

·       Professional photography of the winning product (including the digital file for reproduction in the winner’s own advertising/online/media placements)

·       Inclusion in all post-contest press outreach

·       Inclusion in a congratulatory ad in a jewelry trade publication

·       A customized poster featuring the winning product and denoting it as an award winner

·       Inclusion in PGI’s national publicity campaigns to trade and consumer media

·       Customized in-store signage package for up to 100 of the winner’s top retail customers

·       PGI will conduct an in-store, facilitated sales training session at a store of the winner’s choice

·       Professionally-produced ad slick for placement in local/regional media

For complete details and to submit your best platinum designs, please visit www.platinumguild.com. For more information, contact Jennifer Singerman, PGI-USA,  jsingerman@pgiusa.com, (212) 404-1604. 

Again, deadline for all entries is April 6, 2011.