IIJS Signature 2011 Concludes

Low Turnout but Quality Visitors
IIJS Signature 2011 Concludes

The IIJS Signature 2010 concluded January Monday 10th, 2011, with the most exhibitors expressing satisfaction at the business done at the show.

The IIJS Signature which was held in Mumbai for the first time, after three successful years in Goa, also saw some changes in format. For the first time it included loose stones participants and also had international exhibitors, mainly companies dealing in loose polished diamond companies from Israel and Antwerp. Nissim Palomo, CMO of the IDI, the umbrella organization under which the Israeli companies participated said that the Israeli diamantaires were very positive about the Indian market and on the back of some good business response at previous shows, there was strong interest in participating in the IIJS shows in Mumbai.

While it was widely accepted by both show organizers and the exhibitors that the number of visitors were comparatively low (the actual figures are yet to come in), the exhibitors by and large felt that the quality of visitors and the business at the show was good. “The visitors at the show are serious,” commented Anish Kothari of Shrenuj. “And as the number of exhibitors is also less, visitors are able to spend enough time at each booth they visit.”

Raj Mody of Interjewel said, “There are some periods in the day when we do see a rush like between 12 and 3pm.” Their diamonds saw a good response from buyers from the North and the South. “There was interest in all qualities, from VVS to SI,” he said.

Kunal Shah of A’Star said that though there were fewer walk-ins, those coming in were interested buyers. “Visitors are coming from all over the country, and are interested in different concepts,” he said, “there is no particular trend.”

Certainly the verve and vitality and the colourful gaiety of Goa was missing. The mood was sober and businesslike. Maybe that is something that exhibitors feel is more important, however some expressed wistfully that they missed Goa and the spirit of the IIJS Signature which came alive there.

The first step has been taken by shifting the Signature to Mumbai. However, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council has its work cut out for the future: the identity of the show needs better defined; more marketing efforts for the January show are necessary and maybe even the dates need to be looked at. With Gujarat’s Sparkle show on at the same time, there was a widespread feeling that visitors from that region had stayed away, thus affecting footfalls and business, to some extent.

But no doubt the GJEPC, veteran organizers of the IIJS and several other successful events will move quickly to redress this issue and move on to making the next show a resounding success.


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