inhorgenta europe, the biggest international trade fair for watches, clocks, jewellery, precious stones, pearls and technology in the EU opens its doors for the 31st time on 20 February 2004 for four days until 23 February. Awaiting the 30,000 or so trade visitors expected to attend the fair from all over the world are the latest collections and trends, as well as a diverse and attractive programme of accompanying events. The sector-specific and marketing themes covered in this programme include, for example, 'Modern Shopfitting', 'Customer Relations', 'Fashion and Jewellery', 'Design and Material', 'Sales Strategies', and the relationship between 'Industry and Higher Education'. The following is a preview of the content and working titles of the key information events planned. The events take place in the seminar area in Hall A2, and there is simultaneous translation into English for the foreign retailers and manufacturers taking part.

One focal theme at inhorgenta europe 2004 is the subject of 'Modern shopfitting / Shop-in-shop concepts — the way forward'. Modern shopfitting concepts in the retail trade can play a key part in business success and help forge closer contacts with customers. A special exhibition with over six models in 1:20 scale shows visitors the latest shopfitting solutions. They come partly from well-known exhibiting firms, and partly from independent service-providers. The idea behind the display is to encourage the retail trade to rejuvenate their businesses. Here is the place to gather information on what to watch out for when redesigning a shop, and to hear about the success others have enjoyed. A jury will inspect the concepts on display and give a Shop Design Prize for the best solution. A lecture will be held in the seminar area about the prize-winning design.

In the retail trade in particular there are good opportunities to approach customers direct, and to forge closer relations with them. The seminar on CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or Active Customer Management and Customer Satisfaction — often under-used opportunities in the jewellery retail trade, presents comprehensive strategies for improving all functions and processes in a company, with regard to customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and profitability. Illustrated with many practical examples, trade visitors will learn how to improve customer relations using just a few simple means. The speaker is Prof. Stefan Hencke of market researchers and marketing experts, Marktforschungs- und Marketingunternehmen Convensis GmbH. Professor Hencke is also Professor of Marketing Communication, at Trier University.

Brands, jewellery and fashion — inseparable or supporting roles? The speaker here is Christel Trimborn, a fashion designer and editor-in-chief of the jewellery and lifestyle magazine Solitaire. She will be talking about the special relationship between jewellery and fashion, and also about the importance of jewellery brands and the presentation of jewellery. She will be presenting not only exciting and matching combinations for the coming summer season in 2004, but also showing ways for jewellers, as experts in their field, to visualise this special connection.

For manufacturers in particular, but also for interested jewellery retailers, is the seminar on Lifestyle 2005 — Trends, Tendencies, Colour. This session takes a close look at trends and tendencies in the lifestyle industry for the 2005 season. It analyses in depth which role colours and shapes, materials and social developments will play in the emergence of trends that connect the lifestyle areas of fashion, jewellery, art, design, textiles, food and architecture. The speaker is Natascha Glunz from the trend and design agency, Glunz-Design of Bochum.

Retailers and manufacturers are sure to be interested in the seminar on Design and Material — Symbiosis without contradictions? For years the material mix has been regarded as the most important trend criterion. What effects has design on the choice of materials? How do different materials influence design? This and other questions will be answered in this seminar. The name of the speaker will be announced shortly.

Rounding up the seminar programme at inhorgenta europe 2004, is the information event on 'Modern sales strategies in the jewellery retail trade', organised by the German trade magazine, U.J.S.-Uhren, Juwelen, Schmuck. The particular attraction of this event is that trade retailers will have the opportunity of having the U.J.S. cartoonist draw cartoons for them to use in the advertising in their own shops.

In addition to the seminars, a number of panel discussion are being organised. One of them is on the relationship between industry and higher education. Also, the renowned company Chronoswiss, also an exhibitor, will again be involved in a panel discussion at inhorgenta europe.

The many demonstrations of new machinery and equipment for the manufacture and processing of jewellery, are also an important part of the trade programme at inhorgenta europe.

www.inhorgenta.com Contact: [email protected] (please credit Europa Star)

Source: Inhorgenta Press Release
November 2003