(LAS VEGAS) - Acclaimed television and film actress, Kerry Washington, presented Efraim Grinberg, Movado Group Chairman and CEO, with the award to honor his extensive work for Jewelers for Children at the 15th Annual Facets of Hope event on Sunday, June 2 at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Keynote address by Simon Bailey

(ATLANTA) - The popular SJTA U educational series returns to the August 3-5 Atlanta Jewelry Show with a full line-up of innovative business growth strategies for retailers.  Among the highlights are programs outlining ways to maximize sales of designer jewelry, that complement the August edition’s new boutique-style “show-within-a-show” section - Handcrafted Studio. Rounding out the program offerings, popular speaker Simon Bailey, president, Brilliance Institute, Inc. will deliver the keynote address.

(ATLANTA) - To make it even easier for jewelers to discover fresh designs and business growth opportunities, the Atlanta Jewelry Show is adding new categories, networking and educational resources to the August 3-5 edition at the Cobb Galleria Center. In addition to the new “show-within-a-show” boutique, Handcrafted Studio, the August edition’s after-hours social schedule expands from one to three nights and the educational offerings grow to include a pre-show designer workshop, GIA Lab Classes, and a broader range of programs and topics during the popular SJTA U series.

“Retailers are always looking for something new to liven up their merchandise mix and store traffic,” explains Carol Young, executive director, Southern Jewelry Travelers Association (SJTA), producers and managers of the semi-annual Atlanta Jewelry Show.  “Designer jewelry is a proven retail traffic-builder. So we’re giving retailers a convenient resource to find fresh new designs. And, we’re backing these new product offerings, as well as the many other resources on the show floor, with educational programs and a significantly expanded show social line-up to send retailers back to their stores energized, refreshed and full of actionable ideas to boost sales.”

Among the new features for the August 2013 Show:

Handcrafted Studio
Offering a new resource to discover American-made artisan designs in a range of price points and styles, this juried section is anticipated to debut with more than 20 jewelry designers from around the country.  To ensure that this new section becomes a true showcase for up-and-coming designers, emerging trends, meticulous craftsmanship and original artisan pieces, participating designers will be selected by a jury of leading industry designers.  As part of the section’s debut, Cindy Edelstein, president, Jewelers Resource Bureau, will lead two programs, including a pre-show workshop for designers, “Super-Charging Your Sales Skills” on Friday, August 2 from 2-4 pm and a retailer program, “Differentiate Your Store: How to Boost Sales and Maximize Profits with Designer Jewelry,” on Saturday, August 3 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Jewelry Camp
Further strengthening business growth opportunities with estate jewelry, the 36th Annual Antique Jewelry & Art Conference will run in conjunction with the Atlanta Jewelry Show.  Scheduled for August 1-3, “Jewelry Camp” gives attendees the chance to come to Atlanta earlier and extend their stay to take full advantage of the extensive educational offerings both events deliver.  www.jewelrycamp.org.

MINGLE!
“We don’t just want to see our attendees for one night.  We want to see them every night of the show,” says Young, explaining the decision to expand the show’s after-hours social schedule beyond the traditional Sunday Night Gala.  Now attendees have many opportunities to gather with friends for festive after-hours events during the show at MINGLE!, the special new “show lounge” located in the lobby of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Gatherings will be from 5-7 pm and 9-11 pm on Friday, August 2; 9-11 pm on Saturday, August 3; and from 6:30 – 8:30 pm on Sunday, August 4.

In addition, the August Atlanta Jewelry Show will also welcome back a number of other popular programs and features. Among them:

GIA® Colored Stone Grading Lab Classes
For the third year in a row, the Atlanta Jewelry Show is proud to sponsor and bring these outstanding hands-on gemology lab classes to attendees.  This summer, the Colored Stone Grading Lab Class, which is required for GIA GG and Graduate Colored Stones Diplomas, is being offered twice: Wednesday, July 31 - Friday, August 2, 9 am - 5 pm daily (sold out) and Saturday, August 3 - Monday, August 5, 9 am - 5 pm daily.

The price is $1458 and space is extremely limited.  For registration information, contact Judy Lince at SJTA at 800-241-0399 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SJTA U
The popular SJTA U educational series returns with a full line-up of innovative sales and marketing strategies for retailers.  Among the highlights are programs outlining ways to maximize sales of designer jewelry, that complement the August edition’s new “show-within-a-show” boutique, Handcrafted Studio. Rounding out the program offerings, popular speaker Simon Bailey, president, Brilliance Institute, Inc. will deliver the keynote address.

Free Buyer Breakfast
Buyers can gear up for a busy buying day by enjoying a light continental breakfast served each day in the registration concourse area.

Circa® Lounge
Circa, a leading global buyer of fine jewelry, diamonds and watches, invites buyers to relax and regroup during their busy buying day in the Circa Lounge located in the exhibit hall.

SJTA Rewards Program
Buyers can earn valuable SJTA Reward points for simply placing orders for their best-sellers, required stock items, and other store necessities during the Show, and then redeem them for hotel and travel packages, electronics, personal accessories, home goods and more. At any time during the event, buyers need only bring copies of orders placed during the show to the SJTA Rewards desk where the representative will deposit the corresponding Rewards points to their Rewards account. After the show, retailers can visit the program’s online catalog to see all the items they can order.

Elite Buyer’s Club
Retailers who have earned 15,000 SJTA Reward points or more at any one of the past three shows are automatically enrolled in the Elite Buyers Club - the exclusive club of Atlanta VIP buyers. As a member, they receive special badges signifying VIP Status; access to an exclusive registration counter just for Club Elite Members; and entry into the exclusive, member-only Club Elite Lounge. To find out if they qualify for membership, buyers should contact Fran Strauss at SJTA, 800-241-0399 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Travel Savings
SJTA has arranged for deep discounts at area hotels, which can be obtained by calling the show’s host hotels directly or via the show website. Attendees can find the list and direct links to the hotels, rates and group codes to reference for discounts at www.atlantajewelryshow.com. When calling, attendees should tell the reservations representative that they’re attending the SJTA Atlanta Jewelry Show to take advantage of the special show rates.

For more information visit www.atlantajewelryshow.com; e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 800-241-0399 or 404-634-3434.

Brad Simon, contributing columnist for Southern Jewelry News and Mid-America Jewelry News, will be autographing copies of his new book, “Mobile Marketing 4 Jewelers” at the Southern/Mid-America Jewelry News booth (#L2) in the lobby of the August 3 - 5 SJTA Atlanta Jewelry Show.  Copies of his book will be available at a discounted price. Stop by the show booth on Saturday or Sunday and have Brad autograph your book.

The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) announces its 40th Annual Mid-Year Conference to be held in Pittsburgh  PA, August 10 – 13, 2013 at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. 

(ATLANTA) – The Atlanta Jewelry Show will welcome two new product sectors to the exhibition floor during the August 3-5, 2013 edition – Handcrafted Studio and Antique Alley. Offering attending retailers a range of fresh new resources to enhance their merchandise mix and attract new customers, these boutique-style sections will showcase hand-styled jewelry from emerging and established designers, as well as a versatile selection of antique and estate jewelry.