PGI & JCK Announce JCK 2011 PLATINUM INNOVATION AWARDS

PLATINUM GUILD INTERATIONAL USA ANNOUNCES A CALL FOR ENTRIES

 FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL JCK 2011 PLATINUM INNOVATION AWARDS

"2010 Platinum Innovation Award Winner,
Uneek Platinum 'Snowflake' Pendant"

Platinum Guild International (PGI-USA) in conjunction with JCK Las Vegas announces acall for entries for the second annual JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards,held at JCK Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay, June 3 through June 6, 2011. Following the success of last year’s competition – which included an impressive 75 entries from the nation’s top jewelry brands – this year will once again celebrate and award innovative platinum design in both bridal and fashion jewelry.  The deadline to enter is April 6, 2011.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Platinum Innovation Awards back to JCK Las Vegas,” shared Huw Daniel, President of PGI-USA.  “The overwhelming response and passion from last year’s participants has inspired some exciting evolutions to this year’s competition. We are eager to see the ingenuity continue, and look forward to helping our industry partners build their platinum sales through innovative design.”

Contest categories were selected by top US retailers based on what platinum product they would like to see in their stores.  This year’s contest categories include:

·       Vintage-Inspired Platinum Engagement Ring

·       Modern Platinum Engagement Ring

·       Entry Platinum Engagement Ring (semi-mounts under $2500 retail)

·       Platinum Wedding Band

·       Platinum Earrings

·       Platinum Fashion Ring

Entrants within each category will instantly become “nominees” into this year’s competition, and benefit from having their design professionally photographed and featured on PGI-USA’s consumer website, www.preciousplatinum.com as they await the chance to win the Platinum Innovation Awards’ prize package, valued at $50,000.   Contest judges will be an elite panel of top editors and retailers attending JCK Las Vegas.

“JCK is thrilled to once again have Platinum Guild International’s Platinum Innovation Awards as part of this year’s event!” quoted Yancy Weinrich, Industry Vice President, JCK Events.  “We praise their efforts to promote the beauty of platinum not only to consumers, but to retailers at point-of-sale. With JCK’s new home at Mandalay Bay this year, and an enhanced show floor experience, the Platinum Innovation Awards will offer excitement and fun for retailers who spend time with us this year as well as honor exhibitors who excel in designing platinum jewelry.”

Winners in each of the five categories will be announced on June 5, 2011, and will receive a prize package valued at $50,000, including:

·       Official JCK 2011 Platinum Innovation Awards trophy

·       Inclusion in the Design Gallery of PGI’s consumer website, www.preciousplatinum.com, which hosts more than 40,000 unique visitors per month

·       Winning pieces featured in PGI’s national advertising campaign

·       Custom-designed store window display, featuring the winning platinum design, at a store of the winner’s choosing

·       Professional photography of the winning product (including the digital file for reproduction in the winner’s own advertising/online/media placements)

·       Inclusion in all post-contest press outreach

·       Inclusion in a congratulatory ad in a jewelry trade publication

·       A customized poster featuring the winning product and denoting it as an awardwinner

·       Inclusion in PGI’s national publicity campaigns to trade and consumer media

·       Customized in-store signage package for up to 100 of the winner’s top retail customers

·       PGIwill conduct an in-store, facilitated sales training session at a store of the winner’s choosing

·       Professionally produced ad slick for placement in local/regional media

For complete details and to submit your best platinum designs, please visit www.platinumguild.com. Additional questions may be directed to Jennifer Singerman, PGI-USA, at jsingerman@pgiusa.com or (212) 404-1604.  The deadline for allentries is April 6, 2011. 

About PGI-USA:

Platinum Guild International is dedicated to promoting platinum and its, pure, rare and eternal qualities to the consumer and the jewelry trade. PGI has offices in each of the world's major jewelry markets, providing information, assistance and education on all aspects of platinum jewelry. For more information please visit www.platinumguild.com