IJL to move in 2014

IJL’s event director and Jewellery Focus columnist Sam Willoughby revealed the news to esteemed guests at its recent Champagne reception and launch party in Birmingham.

“I am incredibly excited about the opportunities this move allows us,” Sam commented.

“Olympia is an iconic venue with fabulous lighting and as soon as we went to look around, with a number of members from the IJL Advisory Board, we all knew this was the place for IJL’s new home.

“I think this is going to be a really amazing time for International Jewellery London and we can’t wait to share the plans for the future in the coming months. It is a fantastic milestone in the history of the show.”

Olympia will give IJL more space, while its Grand Hall provides the show with enhanced layout opportunities. With the capacity to grow by 50 per cent, there are plans to launch new parts to the show for 2014.

Earls Court, IJL’s home for over 50 years, is set to be redeveloped into new residential housing in the next few years.

CEO of the Houlden Group and Laing of Glasgow, and IJL advisory board member Stuart Laing said: “Moving the UK’s leading jewellery trade show to Olympia presents a fantastic opportunity to refresh the whole show and take full advantage of the exciting prospects the new location offers. It’s going to be a great venue for everyone involved with IJL and I am really looking forward to next year!”

Sam Willoughby also announced that the show will change to a three-day event: “Having Olympia as the venue and keeping the same dateline was more important to us than the length of the show. We will be having a late night shopping evening on the Sunday and the last day will be a full day, giving exhibitors and visitors ample buying and selling time. Ultimately, it will make everyone’s time at the show more productive.”