Couture 2010 marches towards its 15th Anniversary!

Couture 2010 marches towards its 15^th Anniversary with over
100 brands already committed...

Stalwarts Like David Yurman, Gurhan, Alex Sepkus and Charriol lead the way

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (February 8, 2010) – June 3, 2010, marks the opening day of Couture 2010, which will be held at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas from June 3^rd until June 7th. Led by some of the most important and respected brands in the jewelry industry, Couture is positioned to deliver an exceptional event. The 2010 event will be the show’s 15^th anniversary and will be a celebration of Couture’s dedication to showcasing the best designers in the industry including luminaries such as David Yurman, Marco Bicego, Alex Sepkus, Charriol and many others. Couture’s long dedication to weaving together the right brands with the right retailers all in the Wynn hotel’s tremendous facility has proven to be an unbeatable formula.

“The Couture Show has consistently provided an important venue for us to market Alex Sepkus in an elegant, comfortable and civilized environment. We are able to spend valuable time with our customers building and maintaining the relationships that are the cornerstone of our success,” says Jeff Feero of Alex Sepkus.

In 2010, Couture is committing itself to deliver on its brand promise. Lee Arevian, Couture’s show director notes, “A luxury brand has to deliver a luxury experience. We can make some adjustments to better reflect the times, but in the end, the things that define Couture – the level of hospitality, the delivery of certain events, etc. – have to reflect the brands we serve. We’ve made a commitment to our exhibiting brands and our retailers that these certain key elements will remain untouched, and in some cases enhanced.”

The best brands and the best experience are only completed by the best retailers. And once again, Couture is leading the way. Our important Cornerstone Retailer program is being supplemented this year by the additional tier of identified retailers known as Signature Retailers. “While our Cornerstone Retailers represent the icons in our industry, and write huge amounts of business, our Signature Retailers represent an important component as well,” says Arevian. “Through careful mining of Nielsen data and extensive interviews in the designer and retailer community, we were able to identify over 200 retail companies that represent a powerful and vibrant group of retailers particularly skilled in selling designer jewelry. We’ve built a series of programs for them to ensure they have ample opportunity to network and interact with our manufacturers and designers and create a similar dynamic to that we have with our Cornerstone Program.”

All this is done with an eye towards continuing to build the “triumvirate of success” – the best brands, shopped by the best retailers in the best venue. Or, as Fiona Tilley of Gurhan puts it – “Couture remains the primary show on which we depend for the best buyers, the best sales and the best of experiences. All of our important customers make a point of attending Couture to meet with us and have remained committed to it.”

To register, click here

About Couture

Couture, at http://www.TheCoutureShow.com, is the world's most exclusive annual collection of leading international design icons and emerging stars designers and the best of Couture retailers. Set in the magnificent Wynn Resorts, Couture is the only destination where more than 85% of the world's most recognized designers and brands exclusively choose to show during Las Vegas Market Week. Now in its 15th year, Couture continues to be the benchmark for the industry standard for excellence making it the unparalleled event experience for the most prestigious designers and retailers in the world. Couture is an event produced by Nielsen Business Media.

Ganoksin Orchid Raffle 2010 Winners Announced!

Winners of the Ganoksin Orchid Raffle 2010 are Announced!

Many thanks to our friends at Rio Grande for their generous donation
for making the Ganoksin Orchid Raffle 2010 a hit!

Rio Grande is your online source for innovative jewelry-making
products, great service and technical know-how. Whether you are just
starting out or are a seasoned professional jeweler, metalsmith or
artisan, Rio Grande share your passion.

Also, a HUGE thanks for those who participated in purchasing a
Charles Lewton-Brain's eBook.! Thank you!

and (drumroll please).... the lucky winners are...............

$5,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate goes to

Lawrence M Saber
of Sabushka Design, Perth, Australia
http://ww.sabushkadesign.com

It all started at the beginning of 1981 when I started my
Apprenticeship for a big Manufacturing Jeweller, in
Johannesburg, South Africa. After doing my Trade Exam and
passing it, I went to run a Workshop for a friend of mine (a
fellow apprentice). After a year and a half I decided to go out
on my own. As I had no tools etc. I chanced upon someone who was
emmigrating to the USA and offered to buy his tools. I ended up
buying his Company (including 5 Benchworkers and customers) The
first 6 months were a huge learning curve for me, as I sorted
the "wheat from the chaff", client and staff wise, as well as
learning how and how not, to run a business.

From then on it was all hard work and learning curve after
learning curve until I started to build a reputation for
creating / producing High Quality, High End Jewellery. In that
time (about 12 years) I trained 4 Apprentices and realized that
I loved teaching what I knew to others. I decided to start a
small school, as well as continuing with the business. Not only
did I teach, but I learnt from the students, at the same time.
In all I ran my business for 16+ years and mostly loved every
second of it.

In August 2001 I emmigrated to Perth in Western Australia, where
I was offered a job as Workshop Co-ordinator for one of the big
Manufacturer / Retailer Co's here. I lasted around 18 months
there, before deciding that the "Corporate" kind of environment
was not for me. I then got a job as a bench jeweller. By a
process of elimination ie: the Head Jeweller leaving, to go to
work in Italy, I became Head Jeweller and worked at the Company
for 3 and 1/2 years, before finally deciding to go on my own
again.

I really enjoy starting from a blank sheet of paper, to a
concept sketch, to a final sketch and then on to the real stuff
- 24kt Gold granules, Copper and Silver for alloy, maybe some
Palladium - Melting and alloying into 18kt Gold Bar / Ingot and
then rolling and forging and cutting and filing and soldering
and polishing, maybe settting some stones, final polish and
finally - that sense of accomplishment - the piece is done and
it looks good. Thats what it is all about

.....................................................

$5,000 Rio Grande Gift Certificate goes to
Robyn D. Kleinhans of Colfax, CA. USA

I have joyfully been teaching a jewelry design and rendering
class at the California Institute of Jewelry Training (CJIT).

I did most of the custom design and sales in a fine-jewelry
store in the late 80's.

I have just returned to the bench afer a long sabatical - I am
happily working away, waking up my skills! I first began metal
fabrication as a teen-ager. After getting as far away from
jewelry, and the industry, as possible to pursue other artistic
avenues, (rebel against the family jewelry business!) and raise
my own family, - I have come full circle, and begun to embrace
this as a wonderful gift!

.....................................................

Orchid Members - Please do your part and continue to purchase supplies, books
and services from those who believe in the magic of Orchid and Ganoksin.

Thank you everyone for your support!
Hanuman