J A NEW YORK

May 30^th, 2003 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
G.L.D.A., INC. LOWERS EXHIBITORS COSTS
WITH IN-HOUSE TRADE SHOW EXPO SERVICE AT
2003 LAS VEGAS JEWELRY AND GEM SHOW

In an effort to lower exhibitor's costs and reduce the amount of stress caused during exhibitor setup of their trade shows, G.L.D.A., INC. began providing the expo service through B & L Convention Rental. (Their in house expo service).

Las Vegas is a Union city just as New York and Chicago are, and the union rules apply to most trade show events in the city. The Las Vegas venue has been an expensive one for most trade show exhibitors, and many are prevented from exhibiting because the set up costs are just too high. Many exhibitors pay more for having their booth set up and their merchandise delivered to them than they do for the booth space itself.

In an interview, G.L.D.A., Inc. President Tanna Wyatt commented "After four years of contracting local expo services to set up our show, we (G.L.D.A.) made the decision to do it ourselves starting in 2003. We have been setting up our own show in Tucson for 25 years and had much of the equipment and expertise needed already in place. In the past four years we have lost a lot of good exhibitors because they just could not pay the high prices charged by the expo contractors to set their booth and deliver their goods. The pre-show set up day has been a nightmare with exhibitors upset and frustrated by unexpected charges and problems. Union labor is still required and we must abide by union rules however we feel certain we can do a much better job for a lot less cost to the exhibitors."

Each year G.L.D.A. strives harder to make the Las Vegas show better, and this new development will go a long way toward building a strong partnership with exhibitors. At a time when everyone is looking for ways to cut costs and survive, this is a welcome relief for many show weary attendees.

By replacing the outside expo service G.L.D.A. is able to hold union labor costs down to almost half of what the expo services were charging. Another huge cost saving effect is that exhibitors will no longer be required to pay drayage by the pound to get their merchandise and setup equipment delivered from the dock to their booth. Instead they will pay a flat rate per trip on the number of trips it takes with a forklift or cart to get the items delivered to the booth. Rental equipment such as draped tables and chairs will be at greatly reduced rates from previous years.

When asked why they decided to make such a drastic change G.L.D.A. Marketing Director Paul Page said: "We felt the move was necessary to make sure our exhibitors had the best service at the lowest prices. The more control we have over how the show is operated, the better we can make it for our exhibitors and our shows. When we complained to the expo service about the prices they were charging our exhibitors for equipment and drayage and they said, "What difference does it make to you? None of the other shows care. It's not costing you more so it's not your money", we knew something had to change."

The move by G.L.D.A. has created a lot more work for them but they feel in the long run it will be worth it and will insure the continued success of their exhibitors and their shows.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT G.L.D.A.'S LAS VEGAS AND TUCSON GEM & JEWELRY SHOWS PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
G.L.D.A. Inc.
P.O. Box 2391
Tucson, Arizona USA 85702
PH: 520-792-9431 FAX: 520-882-2836
E-MAIL : info@glda.com WEB: www.glda.com

BASEL, SWITZERLAND

BASEL, SWITZERLAND

BASEL, SWITZERLAND

HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

HONG KONG JEWELLERY & WATCH FAIR

BASEL FAIR CONTROVERSY

October 2, 2002

The controversy over the Basel Fair moving most of their International Jewelry Pavilions and exhibitors to Zurich seems to finally have been resolved, at least for the 2003 show.

The Basel Watch and Jewelry Fair held in Basel, Switzerland each year, is the largest such trade fair in the world. Basel Fair Management announced at the 2002 Fair that the International Jewelry Pavilions and many of the jewelry exhibitors (approx. 600 exhibitors) would no longer be able to exhibit at the Basel sight but would be relocated to a new convention center in Zurich approximately100 miles away. Management is planning to provide free transportation for buyers to go back and forth between the shows and feels in the long run it will be a good move for everyone.

Management contends the split in the show is necessary in order to make room for more branded watch and jewelry products. There just is not enough space in Basel for everything and management feels the watches are more representative of what the show is known for. It will also make more space available for jewelry companies wishing to expand their space and for companies who up to this point have not been able to get into the show due to lack of space.

Many sponsors of the International Jewelry Pavilions and their exhibitors were very unhappy about the proposed change and spent many hours at this years fair in meetings trying to talk management into letting them remain in Basel. Exhibitors feel they will see a lot less buyers and have fewer sales. In the end, management stood firm in their resolve to make the change starting in 2003.

Upset because of the fair’s unwillingness to change their mind, some groups and exhibitors announced last June that they were not going to go to the Zurich show in 2003 but would hold their own exhibitor ran show in Lausanne, Switzerland immediately before the 2003 Basel Fair show. Since the announcement, the Basel Fair management has spent countless hours discussing it with the principles and doing their best to convince affected groups and exhibitors to give the Zurich Fair a chance in 2003.

Following the Hong Kong Jewelry and Watch Fair held Sept. 25-29, 2002, those instrumental in organizing the Lausanne show made the decision to postpone the new show until at least 2004. The organizers of the Lausanne Show reportedly had signed up 280 exhibitors for the new show but when they were unable to get 100 to 150 more companies from Hong Kong to sign up during this past Hong Kong show the decision was made to postpone it.

The Hong Kong companies were some of the most unhappy with the Basel Fair's plan to move them to Zurich, however it appears the leading Hong Kong trade associations have been swayed by the Basel Fair management to give the show a chance. The Hong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which organizes Hong Kong's pavilion at the Basel show and supports other trade fairs involving Hong Kong firms has announced they will be going to Zurich not Lausanne in 2003.

With the postponement of the Lausanne show, many of the exhibitors who had signed on will likely join the Zurich event, although a few have said they won't be going back unless they are given their old location at the fair in Basel.