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Drew Lawsky is the Show Director of Emerald Expositions Jewelry Group.
Emerald Expositions is a leading operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States.
They currently operate more than 55 trade shows, as well as numerous other face-to-face events.
In 2017, Emerald’s events connected over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupied more than 6.9 million NSF of exhibition space.
Clickable Show Notes
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Question #1 – When you were sitting around pondering your options after college, you probably didn’t have Show Director of the Emerald Expositions Jewelry Group on your radar. What prompted you to make this career decision in the beginning, and what career choices led you here? Timestamp: [3:25]
Question #2 – Emerald Expositions is more, much more than just a collection of the finest jewelry trade shows in the United States. While everyone has heard the name Emerald Expositions, few of us know the prominence it has in trade shows across other business sectors. Can you take a few minutes and talk about Emerald Expositions’ meteoric rise in the trade show sector and the scope of operations? Timestamp: [5:11]
Question #3 – I’ve often thought about the organizational and logistical nightmare it must be to put on a show of the magnitude of a JA New York Show or one of your many other jewelry shows. Can you take us behind the scenes to the months surrounding the event and give us a feel for the run-up to the first day of the event? Timestamp: [6:56]
Question #4 – Let’s talk about the big news for the U.S. jewelry industry and that is Emerald Exposition’s introduction of the “PREMIER” fine jewelry event during Las Vegas trade week. It’s incredible to imagine having the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show, the AGTA GemFair, the Italian Exhibition Group, and PREMIER all under one roof at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Before we talk about the major groups which make up PREMIER, let’s talk about the value proposition of this new event. Why did you create the event and what is the value proposition for retailers and the vendors over other offerings that week? Timestamp: [9:37]
Question #5 – The recently announced addition of the Italian Exhibition Group is huge! Last year the AGTA Gem Fair publically announced it was leaving JCK Las Vegas to move into the PREMIER event in 2019. Is there enough space at the Las Vegas Convention Center for these two additions, and can you share your thoughts on the significance these two great groups have to the PREMIER event lineup and to the visiting jewelry retailers at large? Timestamp: [14:37]
Question #6 – The Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show is the largest trade-only event serving the antique and estate jewelry and watch industry in the United States. The show marked its 20th year anniversary in 2016. I was hoping you could take a few moments for those who haven’t attended this unique show, and convey some of the exciting highlights and compelling reasons to attend for retailers and wholesalers? Timestamp: [16:40]
Question #7 – COUTURE is the global authority for designer fine jewelry and luxury timepieces in the country. It’s held annually at the luxurious Wynn Resort, and clearly, the event caters to an elite community of renowned heritage brands, emerging design talent, the finest retailers, and award-winning media from around the planet. Can you share with us the prominence of COUTURE as a jewelry show icon and how it might change with the addition of the PREMIER sister event? Timestamp: [18:40]
Question #8 – The JA Summer Show has always been one of my favorites. In fact, Michelle Graff, the editor-in-chief of National Jeweler helped us record an episode there a couple of years ago. The show always has such great energy. Can you take us behind the scenes a bit into the niche this show fills among your other events, and how it’s different than the ever-growing market week in Las Vegas? Timestamp: [21:10]
Question #9 – When it comes to the topic of trade shows, everyone seems to have an opinion. Some think they’re on the decline both in attendance and significance. Others see regional shows or private showings as a way to reduce costs and enhance the buying experience. Either way, we see it changing, in many ways morphing into something new. What’s your take on the changes? Timestamp: [23:00]
Question #10 – We’ve covered a lot of ground today, but is there one question that I should have asked you, but didn’t? Timestamp: [25:24]
Contact Information
- Website: Emerald Expositions
- Email: drew.lawsky@emeraldexpo.com
- Telephone: 646-668-3730
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The host of “Inside the Jewelry Trade” Radio Show – Jewelry Business Strategist – President of Four Grainer LLC. Author of the business books “A Reason To Chant,” and “A Reason to Chant – Jewelry Trade Edition.” Rod lives in Atlanta with his wife and two almost-human cats.