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Miami Beach, FL--Following on the heels of a successful Atlanta Jewelry Show/Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO) combination in early March, where a reported 900 jewelry retailers were in attendance, including more than 200 from RJO, the JIS Miami Beach show got off to a strong start on March 22. 

Taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the JIS aisles were busy on opening day. All attendees were required to wear masks and they did. Temperature checking was done prior to show entrty.

Social distancing was encouraged by show management with capacity limits noted on booths, but some exhibitors were overwhelmed with retailer customers and unable to follow the guidelines as they served stores who had been weatheriing the pandemic well.

The Centurion Jewelry Show is slated for May 23-25 in Phoenix and show management reports a fast-growing list of better jewelry stores signing up to attend. "Retailers want to be safe, and we have a long list of COVID-19 safety protocols in place including testing to give everyone a high comfort level," said CEO Howard Hauben. "People are eager to safely get back together, to see and touch jewelry and see their friends, albeit with elbow bumps rather than hugs and handshakes," he said, noting that a sold out exhibit hall awaits the attending buyers.

The Continental Buying group is also reportedly planning its return show in early June in Las Vegas.