There’s enormous excitement for JCK Las Vegas, as the mega jewelry tradeshow heads back to the renovated Sands Expo & The Venetian, May 31 to June 3. The Plumb Club Pavilion, a must-see destination for retail jewelers, will unveil a new look that represents the commitment of this alliance of jewelry suppliers to educate, innovate and connect jewelry retailers with the tools they need to succeed.

These three foundational pillars are guiding the Plumb Club’s strategy, marketing and focus for the future. Having launched its new website, logo and tagline last fall, this cohort of diverse jewelry suppliers has been busy doing its homework to understand the market with forward-looking glasses. It’s being proactive in wanting to meet the ever-changing retail landscape to develop product and marketing around proven trends directions.

Independent consumer research, conducted by The Futurist for The Plumb Club, decoded emerging styles in the market based on bestselling silhouettes, colors and materials. The study revealed several leading iconic design motifs that represent the consumer’s most shared emotional values. The top two symbols identified — the sun and polar star — speak to consumers’ yearning for guidance, direction, balance, wholeness, positivity, spirituality, love, and fantasy.

From this research, The Plumb Club developed a retail strategy to arm all of its members with targeted information and collaborative support that can help them give their retail customers what they need to succeed.

The Radiant Universe

Collectively called “The Radiant Universe” the Plumb Club is revealing a new themed line of jewelry, premiering in Vegas, in which each member has individually created and expressed this theme within their own collections. A selection of pieces will be featured in a look book, to be used as a retail and marketing tool, and jewelers who choose to carry items will have the ability to use The Radiant Universe trademark, under specific guidelines.

“The Plumb Club took this research and studied it for us, giving us comprehensive information and a collective direction, which is great for us as manufacturers,” hails Theresa Namie, merchandise manager for Ostbye, Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Having focus is important to set a trend. I’m curious to see how this plays out. I believe this is going to do very well.”

Saurabh Sheth, sales executive for the New York-based Indigo Jewelry, is thrilled to be a new member of The Plumb Club exhibiting there in Vegas this year. He believes the collective approach of the group has enormous potential to have a real impact on the market in shaping trends and driving sales.

To showcase the designs, the pavilion will feature a Planetarium projecting animated, 3D jewelry imagery of pieces created by its members for The Radiant Universe Collection. Some of the jewelry featured in the book also will be on display in The Plumb Club’s new Retail Innovation and Education Center. Converge Retail, one of several invited firms with cutting-edge sales tools for jewelry stores, created a custom case to show off the jewelry using its kinetic retail display technology.

Among the other technologies spotlighted in the center are augmented reality applications by Augmentes, including an online and in-store platform that allows customers to virtually “try on” jewelry; the digital marketing firm, GemFind will present their custom jewelry design platform and the retailer can learn about “Geo-Fencing”, which is location driven, targeted advertising, through commonly used apps that consumers use every day.

For further inspiration, the pavilion will host “Glossy”, an exhibition by Ombré Gallery, a museum-like experience where jewelry is art. Also, be on the look out for Pepper the Robot, programmed with jewelry information to engage with guests.

“The Plumb Club is investing a lot in providing these services to the retailer, which is so important,” cheers Barbara Barry with the Marathon Company and the Kiddie Kraft brand, Attleboro, Massachusetts. “The retailer needs to know how to compete in today’s world and with all the new technological tools out there, it’s nice for The Plumb Club to highlight this and help the retailer.”

Breakfast Symposium

Among the must-attend educational opportunities of the show is The Plumb Club’s Annual Breakfast Symposium, which is scheduled for June 1, 7:15-9:15 a.m., in the Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian. The group welcomes back the Diamond Producers Association as the exclusive event sponsor. DPA will share a year-in-review of activities in the U.S. market, consumer insights, and fourth quarter plans.

Shep Hyken, customer service and experience expert, bestselling author and National Speakers Association Hall of Famer, will give the keynote presentation: “Today’s Customer Experience—Satisfaction Guaranteed Is No Guarantee”. Hyken will provide retail jewelers with actionable strategies and tactics that can be applied immediately in stores to deliver amazing customer service, improve customer engagement, manage the customer experience, and create fierce customer loyalty.

Following the presentation, attendees who visit the Plumb Club Pavilion will receive a complimentary signed copy of Hyken’s book, “The Convenience Revolution: How to Deliver a Customer Service Experience that Disrupts the Competition and Creates Fierce Loyalty”, with photo opportunity; and access to his online course.

Show-in-Show

Forty-two Plumb Club member companies can be found in this show-within-a-show, including major diamond houses like Rosy Blue and Leo Schachter; leading watch brands Citizen and Bulova; top pearl houses Honora, Imperial and Mastoloni; bridal names like A. Jaffe and Benchmark; fashion from Prime Art & Jewel to Breuning; color by Brevani and created gemstones by Chatham; and the leading supplier of private-label jewelry care products, The Kingswood Company.

“The Plumb Club has always represented the jewelry manufacturers that have the most broad-base appeal,” Namie says. She encourages jewelers to have a plan for how they will navigate the show. “Know what you’re looking for and hone in on that. You know what works best for your business. If there’s a company you want to see more of, make an appointment, to ensure staff has the time to spend with you.”

Make sure to stop by the modernized Plumb Club Café for complimentary refreshments; and stay connected at the pavilion’s Business Center, with laptops, printers, copiers, fax machines, and wired Internet access available. Everything a jeweler needs is at The Plumb Club!