Optimistic buzz as Jewellery & Watch Birmingham kicks off
BIRMINGHAM, England, February 2, 2014 – Sentiment was upbeat as the re-branded Jewellery & Watch Birmingham trade fair opened on February 2, with very good footfall from retailers looking to re-stock after Christmas.
“The general atmosphere and the buzz is extremely optimistic,” said Julie Driscoll, chief organiser of the show for i2i Events Group.
“The brands are saying that they are doing good business. The people here are serious buyers.”
Driscoll brought a delegation of some 15 French jewellery brands to the show to stimulate their interest in exhibiting at future editions of Jewellery & Watch Birmingham and Jewellery & Watch London.
“We are able to deliver a show solution for them that will help them to break into the UK market,” Driscoll said.
Jewellery & Watch Birmingham, previously known as The Jewellery Show Birmingham, has been re-branded to reflect the growing business in watches.
Driscoll reported strong buying enquiries at the jewellery and watch stands on the first day of the show.
The story behind the brands is the key theme of the Jewellery & Watch Birmingham event, underlining the importance to the final consumer of knowing the story that inspires collections on offer at the show.
“If you are an independent retailer, you need to be able to tell your customer what a brand stands for,” Driscoll said.
“You need to be able to sell your brand, whether it be Pandora or Tresor, with passion, because, as consumers, we’re looking for a story. We’re looking for personalisation.”
Driscoll added, “We want to take the brands and the retailers on that journey together.”
Jewellery & Watch Birmingham runs until February 6, 2014.
