Sitting down with Marco Carniello, International Exhibition Director Jewelry & Trend IEG, at VicenzaOro

I at all times like to get insights from VicenzaOro’s frontman, Marco Carniello. One of many issues that stands out is his razor-sharp focus and real curiosity in folks. On Sunday tenth of September, at 9:00 am within the morning, I had the pleasure to interview Marco about VicenzaOro. 

At any time when I converse with Marco Carniello, I am struck by his modest, participating demeanor. However make no mistake, this man possesses a razor-sharp focus and a real appreciation for teamwork. He by no means talks about himself; it is at all times about his workforce. Simply observe how few folks on the prime do this. This obvious lack of ego is a welcome element in a world the place folks like to get credit score for what really took a workforce to perform. 

In the event you’ve seen Marco Carniello strolling across the commerce honest, you could not have missed him; this cycling-loving International Director of Trend and Jewellery for IEG, the commerce present organizer, appears to know everybody. Marco is a shining instance of a contemporary chief, empathetic and engaged, but with a razor-sharp imaginative and prescient and clear targets. He by no means talks about himself however at all times about his Golden Group of colleagues, and he would not hesitate to spotlight the roles of others.

On this interview, I sat down with him within the Welcome Lounge. A German colleague is listening in, and an American “traditional mannequin” and influencer, Manon Crespi, is getting every thing able to shoot an Instagram reel with Marco shortly. Michela Moneta, his proper hand for all issues advertising and marketing, retains monitor of time and solutions.

The primary query is extra of an statement. Friday was noticeably much less crowded than in earlier editions on the identical opening day. Marco folds his palms and smiles. “Properly noticed! We see a lower in attendance on this version; it is a quieter begin. We had vital will increase in earlier editions, even a +20%. Now, we’re seeing a +9% (correction on the finish of the honest: +6%), which is anticipated to say no additional. However that is high quality as a result of when you’ve got a shockwave, even a optimistic one like in latest occasions, it causes numerous points. Your complete provide chain could be affected, and merchandise could not make it to the shops on time.”

“The market is consolidating; it’d really feel completely different from the occasion vibe we had, for instance, in January,” Marco laughs, “but it surely’s far more sustainable now.”

“We additionally count on much less buying; inventories are nonetheless adequate in lots of instances,” says Marco Carniello. Nevertheless, patrons, retailers, and wholesalers are nonetheless coming to VicenzaOro. That is important as a result of they arrive to us for inspiration, to see the place the market may be heading within the subsequent 18 months, and what the developments are. We satisfaction ourselves on being a platform for interplay within the business. We create a wholesome and optimistic atmosphere. We’re right here for the neighborhood that individuals type inside an business.

Marco’s eyes gentle up, and he sits up straighter. “Look, we like to contemplate ourselves a platform of alternatives. That does not simply imply a brand new transaction. We’re a platform for high-quality info and schooling. We’re additionally the networking platform. That is why we make investments closely in occasions each on the honest and round it, like the numerous Joyful Hours (with DJs, music, drinks, and snacks outdoor), particularly within the metropolis of Vicenza, the place there’s a lot to do. The distinctive worth is that we create the precise circumstances for alternatives in many alternative methods.”

I requested Marco Carniello what three issues he hoped VicenzaOro guests would take away as a sense. He jokingly says he desires to focus primarily on enterprise, hinting on the innate Italian aptitude for expressing feelings. That they’ve change into extra impressed, that they’ve made not less than one helpful new contact, and that they’ve found one new provider. The common purchaser stays right here for 2 days, so we hope our hashtag #discovermore has labored for them. We work arduous to change into the showcase for developments. Our advertising and marketing workforce could be very energetic in strengthening this picture on-line and offline; all the way down to the smallest particulars, he factors to a blue shifting decoration all over the place on the honest. We wish to be a cool, hip, and vibrant atmosphere. That is why we’re more and more branding ourselves as an organization. We wish to be synonymous with the phrase “developments.” He laughs and says, “It have to be our Italian character!”

We wish to be a benchmark for operational excellence. We now have to be absolutely efficient. Vicenza is a small metropolis; we’re not likely geared up for big teams of individuals. There is not any airport right here, no 5-star accommodations. That is why it is as much as us to make sure that the customer’s journey goes as easily as doable once they determine to come back right here. And that is mirrored on our web site; all the knowledge is geared in the direction of making it as straightforward as doable for the customer. Marco emphasizes what is usually underestimated: the appreciation for the trouble folks put into attending a commerce honest. There have to be a way of ROI for the customer, and the VicenzaOro workforce clearly feels that accountability.

, I inquired additional in regards to the benchmarking Marco Carniello talked about earlier. How does he really do this? “We primarily have a look at commerce reveals like JCK (USA) and Hong Kong and generally borrow their improvements, they usually generally borrow ours. We really need your expertise,” he nods in the direction of us and the guests within the lounge, “to be not less than as satisfying as at these gala’s, however ideally even higher. We do not see ourselves in competitors with these gala’s however extra as ‘co-opetition’ (as in Dubai, the place VO is a part of the honest). It is necessary to maintain shifting, to innovate as a result of commerce reveals are an older enterprise mannequin.”

That is why we’re consistently testing new codecs like VO’Clock, the place the watch neighborhood has already linked on-line nicely upfront and the place we offer the chance for a bodily gathering. We by no means power the matters that the assorted authorities and specialists carry to the stage. We’re not the authority; we’re a platform.

To have a cause to exist, a platform like a commerce honest should present what the visiting jewellery or watch skilled wants. The honest has observed a requirement for extra pearls and is discussing this with Japan. A very good combine within the completely different halls is important and a mirrored image of what patrons are searching for, says Marco Carniello. “We actively search suggestions from patrons,” he nods. We host 400 of them and provide numerous loyalty applications to 1000’s of others. Suggestions is massively necessary to Marco and his workforce as a result of every thing ensures that the client at VicenzaOro finds precisely what they want. This impacts the admission of recent exhibitors.

Subsequent 12 months, VicenzaOro celebrates its seventieth anniversary. How it is going to be celebrated will likely be revealed to the press in a particular second in mid-October. We’re excited and eagerly trying ahead to January 2024!

Subsequent dates of VicenzaOro

19-23 January 2024

6-10 September 2024