International Jewellery London (IJL) gets off to strong start
By David Brough
LONDON, September 3, 2017 – International Jewellery London (IJL) got off to a strong start with buoyant visitor numbers and packed booths as retailers shrugged off uncertainty over Brexit, a weak pound and soaring precious metals prices to restock before Christmas.
Andrea Hauer of Neola at IJL 2017
Stands such as Gecko and Domino were overflowing with buyers from the outset, restocking merchandise before the critically important Christmas season, which can account for upwards of a third of annual turnover for some retailers.
Exhibitors at IJL were up around 20 percent year-on-year, organisers said, creating a greater choice of supplies for the retailers visiting the well lit and spacious Olympia Grand venue in central London.
Gecko jewellery brand Orla Kiely at IJL 2017 Footfall was strong on day one of the show as retailers shopped for the hottest new jewellery designs. A busy seminar programme addressing topical issues in the industry and future trends in design and luxury, was an added draw for retailers and suppliers alike.
Jewellers defied concerns over surging precious metals prices, combined with a depressed pound, which boosted incentives for exhibitors to launch marketing innovations in order to maximise sales in an uncertain economic and political climate.
Recent North Korean missile tests have spurred safe-haven buying of bullion, dragging up prices of other precious metals such as platinum and palladium, while struggling Brexit talks have weighed on the pound.
Retailers talked of higher costs of importing continental European precious jewellery brands due to the impact of the stronger euro.
Massimo Lucchesi, international sales manager for Gecko, spoke of a taste among women for chunkier, bold designs.
Gecko also caters for tastes for lighter pieces, such as its Elements range.
Designers were out in force at IJL presenting cutting-edge pieces, such as Isabella Liu’s Sea Rhymes and Mending collections, and Andrew Geoghegan’s jewellery inspired by the golden age of Portuguese exploration in the era of Vasco da Gama.
IJL runs until September 5, 2017.
