Solitaire International presents a special interview with the Convener of the National Exhibitions Sub-committee at GJEPC, Nirav Bhansali, the mastermind behind the highly anticipated India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) Premiere 2023. We delve into the preparations and new initiatives that promise to make this year’s event the biggest and most remarkable one yet.
Could you provide us with an overview of the preparations and new initiatives for the upcoming IIJS Premiere 2023?
Absolutely. We are thrilled to share the exciting developments for this year’s event. First, let me assure you that our primary focus has been on delivering an exceptional experience to our visitors and exhibitors. We have already received an overwhelming response, with over 42,000 visitor entries by the second phase. This is an unprecedented number, and it indicates the enthusiasm and anticipation surrounding IIJS 2023.
Additionally, we launched a new initiative called Prime Visitor Registration, specifically designed for large companies. This initiative allows them to select the number of people attending each show and provides them with the flexibility to make changes as needed. Already, we have registered 200 companies and 4,000 visitors through this program. Though the numbers may seem relatively small compared to the overall attendees, these are high-value individuals and companies who need to take bulk packs of multiple passes in a single shot. Every single big chain store has taken these passes, including Titan, Malabar, Kalyan, Joyalukkas, Jos, Senco, Reliance, GRT, Orra, PNG Jewellers, CKC. You name it and they have taken advantage of this facility. This shows the value they see in our offerings.
Similarly, we have offered Prime to our exhibitors who have stayed with us for all three shows. This tier comes with a lot of benefits, and it has been met with a tremendous response. We have already booked over 5,000 room nights, and we are quickly running out of hotels. We have opened 18 hotels, and 16 of them are already sold out. We are working hard to add more hotels. We are very excited about the response to our hotel bookings, and we are confident that the show will be a success.
Could you elaborate on the challenges you faced in organising the dual-venue show, and how did you overcome them?
One significant challenge we encountered was the initial scepticism of exhibitors about participating in a dual-venue show. To address this, we invested a considerable amount of effort into convincing them of the benefits and demonstrating our readiness to make the show work seamlessly. I’m proud to say that out of the 3,200 booths sold, exhibitors of 3,100 booths are now fully satisfied. For the remaining exhibitors of 100 booths, who wanted to be at the NESCO venue but space was unavailable, we worked closely with them to provide alternative options that met their needs. Ultimately, we ensured that all exhibitors were content and had what they desired.
The second challenge was transportation between the two venues. To overcome this, we have implemented a seamless shuttle service that operates every 10 minutes, facilitating easy movement between the two venues. This way, attendees can conveniently switch between venues without any hassle. We have also selected overlapping dates and staggered the show timings to accommodate longer visiting hours, giving attendees more flexibility in exploring both venues.
The team is very motivated and experienced and is taking care of any issues that may crop up.
The 2022 show generated ₹50k crore of business. Your expectations for IIJS Premiere 2023 in terms of attendance, revenue, and business opportunities?
Our revenue target for the IIJS platform in 2023 is set at ₹1 lakh crore. We aim to achieve this impressive figure through the collective contribution of all our three shows: IIJS Premiere, IIJS Signature, and IIJS Tritiya. We anticipate ₹60,000 crores from IIJS Premiere, ₹30,000 crores from IIJS Signature, and ₹12,000-15,000 crores from IIJS Tritiya.
Our goal is to position IIJS as the ultimate platform for conducting business in the jewellery industry. We want to ensure that all the business needs of our members are met under one roof. By providing a comprehensive array of value-added services, seminars, and digital platforms, we aim to enhance their business efficiency and cater to their needs throughout the year.
In terms of attendance for this show, we are off to a great start. In the first phase, we had 30,000 registrations. This is already a record-breaking number, and we believe that we can reach 40,000 to 45,000 attendees by the end of the show. The way things are going, it looks like even 45,000 visitors is achievable.
Give us a progress update on making IIJS Premiere more sustainable through eco-friendly practices.
Sustainability and environmental consciousness are core principles for us at IIJS. We are committed to making our shows cleaner, greener, and safer. This year, we are taking an additional step by contributing one tree for every visitor attending the show – so with an expected footfall of 40,000 visitors at IIJS Premiere 2023, we will contribute 40,000 trees. Plus, this year through all three shows combined, we will contribute over 1,25,000 trees with the support of exhibitors, visitors, sponsors as well as GJEPC’s own contribution. This initiative fosters a sense of inclusivity, where every visitor and exhibitor can actively contribute to a greener future.
We will continue powering the shows using “green” electricity generated from renewable resources. In addition, we are making strides towards eliminating paper waste. All badges will be fully digital, downloadable through the IIJS app, eliminating the need for printing and physical cards.
Further, we are introducing digital visiting cards for all our members and visitors. We are encouraging the use of digital visiting cards that can be saved to the mobile by scanning a QR code. Again, the aim is to reduce paper waste and promote digital safety.
What is your long-term vision for IIJS Premiere? How do you see the event evolving and growing in the next five to ten years?
Our long-term vision for IIJS is to become the ultimate hub where all jewellery business transactions take place. We want to establish IIJS as the go-to platform for orders, new customer acquisitions, and overall business growth.
To achieve this, we plan to introduce a range of value-added services and initiatives that cater to the needs of our members. Our goal is to make IIJS the epicentre of business activity, not just during the shows but throughout the year.
We envision an expansion in our reach, both domestically and internationally, and aim to create a thriving ecosystem that supports the jewellery industry’s growth. This year, we are getting a record number of international visitors and delegations. So, we are going to have 1,000-plus delegation visitors coming from Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and various countries in Africa. Plus, we are getting very big contingents of 100+ people from Turkey and Iran this time.
We have recently launched a new initiative called “40 Under 40” whose purpose is to identify and recognise the emerging faces in our industry who represent the younger generation and have the potential to shape the future.
Once we identify the top 40 individuals each year, we will engage with them throughout the year through various events, making it an exciting opportunity for young professionals to be a part of our industry. This initiative will continue annually, resulting in a group of 400 individuals over the next 10 years who will play a vital role in driving our industry forward.
In addition to “40 Under 40,” we are also organising a networking evening, which is the largest of its kind hosted by IIJS. This event will bring together 5,000 industry professionals. We are offering free passes to our exhibitors based on the size of their booths. Additionally, we have attractive packages available for purchase, allowing exhibitors to acquire additional passes at a highly discounted price. The networking evening will feature a Bollywood singer, Pritam, and before the event, we will hold a felicitation ceremony to honour 20-25 industry legends. These legends include global leaders, women entrepreneurs, influential figures from renowned chains, and legacy families who have made significant contributions to our trade.
We are committed to creating an atmosphere of excitement and productivity for everyone involved in our shows, and we are putting in considerable effort to ensure its success.