(NORWALK, CT June 27) - - -Swiss Watch at JCK 2011 offered top retailers with the best opportunity for watch buying in the United States in its new home at Mandalay Bay/Four Seasons/THEhotel. Top brands such as Breitling, Baume & Mercier, Chopard, Ralph Lauren Watches, TAG Heuer, Harry Winston and Ulysse Nardin offered new and expanded collections. Retailers experienced solidly booked appointments and wrote robust orders for the upcoming buying season indicating a strong market for the remainder of 2011.
“We were excited about the new hotel environment; the suites provided a refreshed show space for us to conduct business and translated into very successful retailer meetings,” said Robert Peterman Vice President of Timepiece division Hermes. “We were also encouraged by the strong retailer response to this new arrangement.”
“The Mandalay Bay location offered close proximity not only to Swiss Watch, but to LUXURY and Elite Enclave,” said Lee Berg, President of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. “It put us right in the middle of the luxury, fine jewelry and watch mecca and enabled us to see so much more in a convenient and upscale way.”
Swiss Watch complimented the buying opportunity offered by JCK’s LUXURY and Elite Enclave’s high-end buying experiences. With the opening of Swiss Watch coinciding with JCK, many retailers were able to participate in a number of business and social opportunities including a slate of private parties hosted by the watch brands at several venues such as MIX, Aureole, Charlie Palmer’s and private penthouse suites. The campus provided convenience and up-scale options for this discerning group of jewelry and watch industry’s elite.
"Swiss Watch and the JCK Show is a great opportunity to sit with key partners," said Ed Bridge, Ben Bridge Jewelers. "We were able to firm up our plans for the remainder of the year and going forward. With everything under one roof, our buying teams were more productive and could see so many more products, collections and merchandise."
The TAG Heuer event at Mix nightclub at THEhotel, was a particular hit with featured entertainment, Earth, Wind & Fire and standing room only. An expanded list of hosted VIP buyers enabled the premier watch and luxury brands/companies to showcase their finest collections with more networking opportunities and inspired a tremendous sense of community for the over 3000 customers staying on property – all of this in an oasis of opulence.
“We were excited about our retailer meetings at Swiss Watch this year,” said Marc Hruschka President of Chopard USA. “Our exhibit space was perfect for our brand, and the logistical preplanning by JCK helped to make our show a complete success.”
“This year’s Swiss Watch brought the finest array of watch brands and collections together with the top ‘A-List’ retailers in an exquisite environment designed just for them,” said Steven Kaiser, President, Kaiser Time. “With a refreshed atmosphere conducive for business and leisure, this year’s event exceeded expectations several times over.”
Swiss Watch at JCK delivered these and other fine brands and companies to its stellar line-up: Bovet, Carl F. Bucherer, Christian Dior, ChronoSwiss, Cuervo y Sorbrinos, Corum, Ebel, Frederique Constant, Girard Perregaux, Gucci, Harry Winston, Hermes, Hublot, Montblanc, Maurice Lacroix Movado, Oris, Perrelet, Raymond Weil, Swatch Group US, Technomarine, Victorinox Swiss Army, Zenith.
“Swiss Watch at JCK presented the singular location on the Las Vegas Strip and even in the US, to see the top watch brands at Mandalay Bay/Four Seasons,” said Dave Bonaparte, Group Vice President, JCK Events. “The finest retailers met with new and existing suppliers; reviewed and in most cases, continued current programs and put together orders in a seamless experience that is uniquely Swiss Watch at JCK.”
ABOUT JCK EVENTS:
JCK Las Vegas 2012 will take place on June 1-4 with LUXURY at JCK, to take place May 29-June 4, 2012 (preceding JCK Las Vegas by invitation - May 29-31) and Swiss Watch at JCK, to be held May 31- June 4, 2012 at Mandalay Bay. LUXURY Privé will take place July 25-27 at the Pierre Hotel, in the heart of Manhattan. The series of JCK Events are designed to serve the worldwide jewelry industry by offering the most comprehensive and complete buying and selling opportunities on a business-to-business basis. For more information on any of the international JCK Events or to view the event's image and video galleries, please visit us at www.jckshows.com or simply call 1-800-257-3626.