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50 W W W.thejeWelrybook.CoM "We provide the retailers the tools and direction to enhance their international experience and buying activities," says Proctor. He explains that organization is the key to success, much like going to the grocery store with a list of desired products will maxi- mize the shopping trip. Craig Husar, CEO and "Chief Romance Officer" of Lyle Husar Designs in Brookfield Wisconsin, recently attended the VICENZAORO Winter show in January 2014 as part of Luxury Brand Group's entourage. "I would highly recommend attending with a group," says Husar. "Guidance from Frank Proctor and Jen Cullen Williams of the Luxury Brand Group team was invaluable. I might not have gone without their invitation. And best of all, with the group, there was always great dinner conversations!" Shopping internationally comes with different customs and practices and a trusted buying group can help retailers prepare for the show. Financial considerations, like the currency rate, the fluctuating price of gold, duties and customs, and extra insurance are all factors to be considered. These tips, and many others, are presented to retailers in the "Entourage Buying Guide" provided prior to each show. John Henne of Henne Jewelers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania states, "Doing it in a group with other U.S. retailers brought an added compo- nent of sharing that was really refreshing. We deepened some relationships within the indus- try, which will last for years to come." But most importantly, these buying trips introduce U.S. retailers to a new array of designers and brands that do not, for the most part, exhibit at American shows. "I found great beauty in all things VICENZAORO, the people attending and selling, the breadth of jewelry offered, the sophistication of the booth structures, the exquisite displays, the unique manufacturing finessed so artfully and the delicious food," says Elizabeth Kirby, Owner and Designer of Elizabeth Blair Fine Pearls in Harbor Springs, Michigan. "I felt everything was executed with integrity and perfection. Above all, there is a warmth to this show that is not felt at any other jewelry show on the planet." "VICENZAORO Winter tends to be the most anticipated and highly attended edi- tion of the fair," says Proctor. It is the first international show of the season with a great selection of merchandise. It also coincides with T-Gold which is the world's largest showcase of machinery and technology used for making jewelry. And an impressive array of more than 1,500 exhibitors from 30 foreign countries were represented at VICENZAORO in January 2014. Ultimately the variety of merchandise found at international shows can supplement a retailers' offerings and give them an edge over their com- petition. Important relationships are made, not only with new designers and other retailers, but with a variety of vendors and suppliers. "The manufacturers and styles were so uniquely different from American shows," says Husar. "Italians have a unique perspective on presen- tation – packaging, textures, papers…in fact, I ordered new store packaging from a manu- facturer I met at VICENZAORO!" "I was very impressed by the efficiency and organizational skills of the VICENZAORO staff who made it possible for us to appreciate Italian style and design. We therefore took home the gemstones and jewelry we selected [in Italy], which cannot be found in the United States, to present to our extremely alert customers," says Richard Eiseman of Eiseman Jewels of Dallas, Texas. For more information regarding VICENZAORO, please visit: http://www.vicenzaoro.com/en. For more information in attending the Fall 2014 edition of VICENZAORO or the Winter 2015 edition of VICENZAORO, please con- tact Frank Proctor or Jen Cullen Williams at Luxury Brand Group, 562-296-5990, frank@luxbrandgroup.com or jen@luxbrandgroup.com. ' a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e s h o w v i c e n z a o r o

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