Post-show Recap: Inside the Dazzling World of JCK 2024
June 26, 2024
With “Love” as this year’s theme, the annual JCK trade show and conference is one of the largest and most important B2B gatherings for jewelry industry professionals and serves as a global launchpad for jewelry trends, products and brands.
Operated by RX and collocated with ultra-curated sister show Luxury, which celebrated its 25th edition this year, the massive event draws in thousands of industry professionals from all facets of the global jewelry industry to Las Vegas for a week of product sourcing, education and networking.
This year's JCK continued to be a hub for fun and inspiring activations and Instagrammable moments. These included a JCK Chapel featuring an Elvis impersonator; a “Puppy Love” lounge; a Love Lock Fence; and a fundraising airbrush tattoo activation in the “Love is Love Lounge” on the show floor that made donations to the Kids in Crisis organization for every tattoo done.
Who, When & Where: JCK and Luxury, May 29–June 3, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and The Venetian Convention & Expo Center.
Show Size: More than 17,300 attendees and 1,900 exhibitors spanning 496,692 square feet.
Looking Back: JCK’s 2023 edition attracted 18,000 attendees and 1,900 exhibiting companies occupying 430,000 sq. ft.
Best features: Buzzing with the biggest jewelry trends of the year, the JCK show floor also offered plentiful learning opportunities with more than 60 education sessions, including the JCK Talks education program and the Social Stage, where content creators and influencers led multiple sessions focused on content, data and bringing them into practice.
In breaking news at the show, De Beers announced it will suspend protection of lab-grown diamonds for jewelry purposes and launched its new initiative, Diamond Proof, a low-cost synthetic detector made for retailer countertops, set to be available at the end of the year.
The Sustainability Summit at JCK brought together innovators, leaders and advocates for positive change to discuss a more sustainable future for the jewelry industry, and the show continued to celebrate the cultivation of inclusion and diversity throughout the event.
Besides a notable presence of emerging Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) designers, brand features, dedicated JCK Talks sessions focused on DEI topics and specialized education sessions, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) once again hosted their Generating Community Impact Breakfast, which focused on disability inclusion in the jewelry and watch industry.
Beyond the show floor: Continuing to make safety a top priority at JCK was a key feature at the event, with show organizers adding additional qualification measures for every attendee. Stepped up onsite measures included bag checks, badge scanning validation at each entrance, a strong presence of security officials throughout the event, and required weapons detection to enter the floor – all accomplished without slowing down entry, according to show officials.
Special events included an evening benefit for Jewelers for Children, which raised more than $2 million for children’s causes, followed by a parade through The Venetian and the Canal Shoppes to TAO Nightclub, where event goers enjoyed the ever-popular JCK Rocks TAO Beach event featuring Grammy-nominated recording artist Flo Rida as the evening’s music headliner.
What they are saying: “This year’s JCK was another that surpassed all expectations,” said Sarin Bachmann, group vice president of RX’s jewelry portfolio and event leader for JCK. “Even in times when there is uncertainty in the jewelry industry, JCK proves once again to be the place the entire industry gathers to source products, unveil new technologies and strategies, learn, discuss, network and place orders for the rest of the selling season. There was a noticeable shift in the energy of the industry once they arrived at JCK and Luxury and the enthusiasm on the show floor prevailed and left the industry on a very positive note.”
Looking ahead: JCK and Luxury will return to The Venetian and The Venetian Expo June 4-9, 2025.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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