Couture 2010 is now open and will run through Monday, June 7 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Las Vegas--Celebrating a milestone year, its 15th anniversary, Couture 2010 opened its doors at the Wynn Las Vegas this morning, welcoming retailers nationwide to the industry's premier luxury showcase for dynamic new talent and established industry veterans.
Ready for business on the show floor at the Wynn Las Vegas were industry luminaries such as David Yurman, Judith Ripka, Roberto Coin and Scott Kay, as well as carefully vetted designers featured in fresh new destinations, including the "nextWAVE" area for new talent, as well as a German Pavilion featuring eight of Germany's most important designers.
All in all, the number of exhibitors at Couture 2010 is up 20 percent over last year, while pre-registered visitors numbered nearly 4,000, according to show organizers, reflecting a double-digit percentage increase over Couture 2009.
According to Joan Landis, group show director for Couture, the show numbers, coupled with Couture's 15th anniversary celebration, make for a high level of optimism.
"It really is a milestone--for our exhibitors and retailers," Landis says. "So many of them were in completely different places when we started 15 years ago, and we have grown together. How we mark the time is with a terrific event."
Prior to opening the doors for buying, however, the first order of business was on education. Stuller and National Jeweler kicked off the morning by hosting the first in a series of America's Best Jewelers (ABJ) panel and discussion group breakfast events (see the line-up of panelists and topics here), inviting retailers to learn about social networking best practices and share their own thoughts and strategies.
The ABJ sessions will continue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with breakfast running from 7:30 to 8 a.m. each morning, followed by the panel discussions from 8 to 9 a.m.
Exhibitors and Couture Cornerstone and Signature retailers will officially celebrate the opening of Couture 2010 at an event this evening featuring a performance by musical guest Train.
Couture runs at the Wynn Las Vegas through Monday, June 7. For more information, visit the show's Web site, CoutureJeweler.com.
