Resilience and business agility are key to adapting to pandemic-induced market changes, remarked Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery, as she revealed the group’s digital strategies moving forward.

Lau talked about the significance of digital initiatives to businesses during the JNA Trade Talk: Return & Recovery - The Road Ahead interview with Olivia Quiniquini, associate publisher and editor-in-chief of JNA and the Jewellery Media team at Informa Markets Jewellery.

This JNA Trade Talk session kicked off JNA’s Return & Recovery series of webinars aimed at examining how various markets, sectors and establishments are dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. 

According to Lau, the pandemic has altered the events industry landscape and made the importance of business agility even more pronounced. To effectively adapt to the new normal, the jewellery community should build its resilience and embrace change at an unprecedented speed.

Informa Markets Jewellery, for instance, is kicking off the first in a series of digital events – Jewellery & Gem Digital World (J&G Digital World), scheduled for October 27 to 29 – and laying down the groundwork for Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community.

The group is working with Atelier Technology, a leading technology provider in the jewellery supply chain, in delivering this curated digital service, Lau further revealed.

She likewise shared pertinent features of J&G Digital World, which includes Matchmaking by Product – currently exclusive to the finished jewellery product category – aided by a machine learning function, Trend Wall, Dynamic Show Guide and tools for seamless digital product meetings.

“Further boosting our audience engagement is a series of Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community industry webinars, practical gemmology sessions and trade discussions leading up to J&G Digital World, led by our flagship publication JNA, the JNA Awards, and Centre for Gemmological Research (CGR), founded by gemmologist Dr. Miro Ng,” noted Lau.

During the sourcing event, they will host sessions on distinct themes daily, namely Innovation (October 27), Trend Watch (October 28) and Education (October 29). Simultaneous interpretation in Chinese and English will be available in a select number of webinars. JNA Awards 2020 will also reveal its award recipients in a virtual presentation scheduled for October 27. 

Lau also discussed growth prospects in the gemstone and jewellery industry.

“There is pent-up demand waiting to be released as some markets gradually ease lockdown measures. We expect to see increased trading action at our fairs – be it offline or online – in the months ahead,” noted Lau. “We are currently working on our 2021 events calendar that features face-to-face shows enhanced or augmented by our new digital service.”

The JNA Trade Talk video interview may be viewed on www.jewellerynet.com.