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Successful 2019 Centurion Show Features Happy Attendees; Announces New Dates, Location For 2020 February 14, 2019 (0 comments)
Scottsdale, AZ—The Centurion Jewelry Show, fresh from a successful 2019 Show in Scottsdale, offered jewelers and manufacturers an optimal place to do business, talk with industry friends and enjoy the desert venue. Retailers and manufacturers agree that much of the industry begins their annual planning at Centurion each year and shared their recent experiences:
“I really enjoyed the show this year for many reasons. First and most importantly it’s more about intimate time with our partners / vendors and there are more conversations about family and general business, less about how much money are we spending.” --Kelly Wade Jewelers, San Antonio, TX
“We enjoyed the show. Accommodations were nice, food was good and entertainment great. There is always a great selection of vendors to see and it's always great to connect with our fellow jewelers.” --Kelly Wickam, Goldsmith Gallery Jewelers, Montana
“Centurion is a great show where you can renew friendships and relationships with suppliers and retailers while viewing new 2019 jewelry treasures. Centurion not only gives us the direction for 2019 jewelry designs along with giving us a look at new technology.” --Olivia Cornell, Cornell's Jewelers,Rochester, New York
“I always look forward to attending the Centurion Show and this year was no different. It is a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with existing designers plus I’m always eager see what is trending as far as new designs. Along with that, I get to catch up with dear friends in the industry that I have come up with and it’s always so fun to see how we have grown and established ourselves. It is RELAXING experience after a hectic holiday season.” --Cathy Eastham, Cathy Eastham Fine Jewelry, Midland, Texas
Morning education sessions, such as this panel about customer experiences, was a highlight of the Show.
Related: Why The Internet Can Never Replace The Customer Experience
“I’ve always appreciated the networking & educational opportunities the Centurion show offers. This year was particularly exciting for us in that we brought two new people from our company. It was energizing to see their reaction and how impressed they were with the quality of vendors & the organization of the show. Centurion is a show that we look forward to attending every year!” --Jennifer Demmary, Reis Nichols Jewelers, Indianapolis, Indiana
“The Centurion Show is perhaps the most important show in the United States. It kicks off the Spring season and helps set our agenda for the spring months. While we certainly write orders at the show, there are clients we visit with who are not quite ready to write business but definitely want to see us in their stores. Those meetings are set up at Centurion.” --Peter Storm, Peter Storm Jewelry
“Centurion 2019 continued to show why it stands on its own in the trade show landscape. The beautiful hotel accommodations, special events, high quality of retailers, and a relaxed show floor environment, all make Centurion a show we look forward to as a company year after year.” --Yossi Abrahimi, Doves Jewelry
Barenaked Ladies, Canada's famed pop group responsible for the opening song of TV's blockbuster Big Bang Theory, was the closing entertainment.
"The Centurion show was an intimate environment this year, perhaps even more than in years past we were able to connect with and speak with retailers that were present. Because of this, conversations were easier to conduct not only on the collection floor but also in the lobby, and in other common areas of the show. Overall, those in attendance were in a stronger mood to buy and look at new things for the year.” --Lisa Nik, Lisa Nik
“The show and all the events were super organized and engaging. We love the centurion show and are proud to be a part of it. We participated in speed dating program. We had a great turnout and really enjoyed getting to meet and getting to know the retailers who participated with GN at our Centurion Salon.” --Asaf Herskovitz, GN Diamond
“The whole view in my mind about Centurion is getting the personal level with a retailer and designer outside of the show floor. I started many new relationships this year with retailer outside of business and we both learned a lot from each other.” --Josh Cohen, A&P AFARIN
The annual Centurion Design Awards are a favorite part of the Show.
Related: Centurion Design Award Winners Announced At Grand Gala
“Centurion 2019 was another strong show for us due to the quality of each meeting we have. We love this show. It’s one of our favorites!” --Kendra Bridelle, Freida Rothman
“The Centurion Show 2019 topped all other luxury jewelry exhibitions due to its incredible atmosphere, fantastic venue, and phenomenal environment for all luxury jewelers. The new Speed Dating program was an excellent addition to an already wonderful Centurion Show. Through this program, we made four appointments with some of the finest retail establishments, and look forward to beginning our partnerships with three of them.” --Martin Ghodsi, American Jewelry Designs
"Our 2019 Centurion Show well exceeded our expectations. A. JAFFE wrote a substantial amount of orders for its new collections and opened several prestigious accounts in new markets. The Speed Dating initiative played a nice part in our success. It was one of our best Centurion shows." --Samuel Sandberg, A.Jaffe
New in 2019 was Centurion’s Speed Dating, where jewelers were matched with exhibitors for a quick exploratory meeting--15 minutes--hopefully resulting in new business matches. Many jewelers enjoyed the process and felt it truly beneficial, as did the manufacturers. The experience paired companies that had not previously met or worked with each other prior to the Show. The results were a solid success at Centurion 2019 and will likely return in the future shows to continue the momentum.
“The speed dating program was a complete success for us. We open one account during the show and we are talking to two others to add them to our designer selection.” --Carlos Melguizo & Saul Sanchez, CARATS, McAllen, Texas
“The highlight of working Centurion this year was by far the Speed Dating. I had my doubts, but it really worked. When both vendors and retailers are on the same 15-minute page magic can happen. When visiting a vendor, I reminded them up front it was a speed date. We skip past the casual conversation and get directly into the vendor’s line with the strength up front. Can a vendor tell his/her story in 15 minutes? Yes, he/she can, and did. If we confirm there is plenty of time after to create a more in depth relationship. In the first two days I worked 39 vendors, over half of which were new. A record for me. I do not have budget for all, but shaking hands and getting a strong introduction to new options was awesome! I plan to speed date going forward at every show.” --Brian Alter, Alter’s Gem Jewelry, Ltd., Beaumont, Texas
“The Speed Dating program was an excellent way to see new things. Typically, my schedule is completely filled by appointments with current vendors. This program allowed me to take a moment to see different brands without a large time commitment. Also, when I received my matches and found I had not been matched with a couple of people on my wish list, I was compelled to make those appointments as well. The concept of the speed date really made me want to explore outside of my comfort zone.” --Lisa Lyons, Clarkson Jewelers, Ellisville, Missouri
“I think the speed dating was good for those manufactures that have been trying to set a meeting with me and I would not. I did meet two manufactures that I haven't in the past and had already placed an order with one and waiting for the other manufacture to send me a proposal. 40% success is not a bad percentage.” --Buce Bucky, Hildgund, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island, Hawaii
“The speed dating program was very good. Down to practicality, those appointments work out as any other one. The 15-minute time may easily become more, when the customer is interested in what they see, and ask for more! It is a good opportunity to deal with customers that wouldn’t give us a chance otherwise.” --Enrique Verdeguer, FACET BARCELONA USA
“We had an excellent experience at this year’s Centurion Show. Our number of appointments were up from last year and we were thrilled to see our customers in good spirits after a successful year. The new Speed Dating program was a great addition this year. We were able to meet three new accounts that we may not have been able to reach otherwise. Two of the three dates worked out particularly well. We look forward to growing these working relationships.” --Amit Sofer, Beny Sofer Inc./Roberto Demeglio
“Speed dating was a major success! I was able to open new doors with retailers I've been interested in for ages!” Jason Rahimi, Steven Royce
“Speed dating was a creative and fun approach to meeting new and previously existing customers who we lost touch with. Translated to more sales for us.” --Ben Asher, Asher Jewelry
“We enjoyed the speed dating- and out of the 4 appointments made through the speed dating I believe we increased our potential to do business with all of them.” --Nicky Schur, Premier Gem Corporation
Centurion also announced the newly elected officers for a two-year term ending in January 2021: Benjamin Javaheri, president, Uneek Jewelry; Frederic Sage, president, Frederic Sage; and Peter Storm, president, Peter Storm Jewelry.
And new for 2020, a new date pattern and a new venue, the next step in Centurion’s ongoing evolution.
"Our exciting new venue and dates, the Four Diamond, J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 29, 30 and 31, 2020, allows us to get our dates much better aligned with the major shows in Tucson while avoiding conflicts with other shows," said Howard Hauben, president of Centurion. "These dates will allow retailers to work the prior weekend and come out Monday afternoon or Tuesday, depending on whether they want to play in our golf tournament on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. They can then work the show the next few days and still be back in the store on Saturday if they wish. Or stay the weekend with us or in Tucson and continue on to the Tucson gem shows, if that's their plan."
"The resort is beautiful, with recently renovated rooms, amazing networking areas and the best exhibiting set-up Centurion has ever had, with two amazing ballrooms opposite one another on a beautiful central foyer where we will locate our service sponsor tables. There are two fabulous golf courses, great pool areas, Spa, Gym, Tennis, Pickle Ball Courts, fantastic food, fun for kids if they come along, and much more. Here's a Pictorial Review of the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort for a preview.”
As always, Centurion will continue its leisure day for golf and tennis tournaments, along with relevant, retailer focused educational sessions and great evening entertainment – and wonderful food! All that plus an atmosphere that encourages relationships and offers a relaxed working environment.
2020 will mark Centurion’s 19th Show. Centurion 2020 Show dates are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 29-31 in Phoenix, Arizona. Contact Centurion for further questions: info@centurionjewelry.com, 516-377-5909 or www.centurionjewelry.com.