Vicenzaoro Dubai Moves to November, Launches B2C Event

The newly formed Italian Exhibition Group will launch a business-to-consumer event to complement the Vicenzaoro Dubai trade show this fall.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

The Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) is the result of a merger between Fiera di Vicenza, the previous owner of Vicenzaoro, and Rimini Fiera. From left to right: IEG Vice President Matteo Marzotto, IEG President Lorenzo Cagnoni and IEG Director of Marketing Corrado Facco

Vicenza, Italy--Vicenzaoro January 2017 marked the first trade show since its owner, Fiera di Vicenza, merged with Rimini Fiera, creating the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG).

Of completing the deal late last year, IEG President Lorenzo Cagnoni (the former chairman of Rimini Fiera) said while speaking to press at the show, “We are used to much lengthier times, even Biblical times, but we were able to finalize our merger in a reasonably short time.”

“Things are possible in Italy,” said IEG’s Vice Chairman Matteo Marzotto, who previously served as Fiera di Vicenza’s president and CEO. “We have proven that things do happen in Italy when you have a vision and you are sensible enough.”

With new ownership, there comes change.

Of the IEG’s portfolio, which encompasses 216 events held across five locations, Vicenzaoro Dubai is receiving the biggest overhaul.

In 2017, the show is being pushed back from April to Nov. 15-18 to coincide with the Dubai International Motor Show, fostering a luxury buying atmosphere.

As in the past, since its launch in 2015, the show will be organized by the IEG (formerly Fiera di Vicenza) and the Dubai World Trade Centre, which is the site of the show.

In addition to the trade show, IEG and Dubai World Trade Centre will introduce a business-to-consumer fair to run concurrently.

IEG Director of Marketing Corrado Facco said, “It is one event with two souls.”

The direct-to-consumer retail aspect will capitalize on the strength of Gulf-area customers, famous for their high-spending practices.

There is even talk of possibly introducing an eyewear element, to capitalize on the “luxury week.”

Vicenzaoro Dubai is “the shining star of our portfolio,” Facco said.

The exterior of the Vicenzaoro January 2017 trade show

Cagnoni, Marzotto and Facco went on to talk about the IEG’s “ambitious budget expectations” for all of its shows throughout fiscal 2017.

“We feel positively about meeting our budget for January,” said Cagnoni, “which makes us feel positive for the year ahead, despite being aggressive with budgets.”

Italy’s position as the No. 1 exporter of gold in Europe (in 2016, the country exported approximately $4 billion, IEG said) is a contributor to IEG’s positive outlook in 2017, though global gold demand was down in the first nine months of last year.

Marzotto stressed that independent factors, such as the price of gold, will always be out of the control of a trade show but are not directly correlated to success or failure.

“We

Banner will be right here …

are actors in the market, at the service of the value chain but we can contribute by doing our jobs well,” he said.

In 2017, IEG is continuing its focus on sustainability. The theme of Vicenzaoro January 2017 was “Responsible Gold.”

“The time has come to focus our efforts on corporate social responsibility,” said Marzotto. “Customers ask for traceability. Standards are being developed that will cause a split between people who will comply or won’t with total traceability throughout the entire supply chain.”

Prior to the 2017 January event, Vicenzaoro renewed its accreditation at the United Nations for promoting corporate social responsibility, which is granted in tandem by CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation. It’s the only trade show to hold such accreditation.

The IEG executives also spoke of the possibility of going public, saying they would likely launch an IPO in the spring of 2018 at a predicted price of between 125 and 135 million euros (or approximately $133,595,000 to $144,279,000).

While Vicenzaoro’s media relations team wouldn’t confirm 2018 Vicenzaoro dates, the T-Gold, or jewelry technology section of the show, website lists the 2018 Vicenzaoro January show as occurring from Jan. 19-24.

Next up for Vicenzaoro is its March show in Hong Kong, held March 2-6.

On June 5-8, the show will be represented by 150 vendors in Las Vegas. From Aug. 1-30, Vicenzaoro will have a presence in Mumbai.

Sept. 23-27 will mark the Vicenzaoro September show, the dates of which have been realigned to overlap with Milan Fashion Week and Nov. 15 to 18 will be the revamped Vicenzaoro Dubai show.

For more information on the IEG, visit IEGExpo.it.

Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.