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| AUGUST 20, 2008: Volume 2, Issue 8 |
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WJC Company Profile: Gemstar—Eshed Diam Spotlight on Union Park: News from WJC Participating Firms
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A Message From Bill Boyajian
As the busy summer trade show season continued, our sales team fanned out across the globe to cover every major industry venue. We stamped our passports in Hong Kong, Antwerp, Istanbul, Mumbai, and Toronto, and we also landed in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles as the weeks and months unfolded. In each of these cities, the World Jewelry Center was received with continuing interest by dealers, manufacturers and industry leaders. With more quality companies signing on every week, we now have 146 Participating Firms from five continents and 24 countries, representing a cross-section of virtually every sector of the trade. At the same time, the development of the WJC’s home in the city-sponsored Union Park continues to be impressive. The Frank Gehry–designed Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is nearing completion. This important medical research organization will become an iconic masterpiece, and it will most certainly draw crowds to Union Park just to see this unique building. Plans for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts are also well under way, as they approach groundbreaking very soon. Please see the related article in this issue of World Jewelry Center Insights. It is exciting to see the massive infrastructure that is going into Union Park, with bulldozers seemingly everywhere, dividing up individual parcels of land. With the necessary permits and approvals from the City of Las Vegas in place, we are proceeding on the development of the World Jewelry Center as interest builds for a major new jewelry center in Las Vegas. We are currently working diligently on the value-engineering which is customary to every major project of this kind. In the meantime, our fine sales staff continues to travel the world, attending and exhibiting at jewelry shows, and hosting events in major cities. In the coming weeks, we will participate in the Columbus Jewelry Show, the Rapaport Diamond Conference in New York, the Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair, and the Hong Kong Show. Please stop by and visit us at any of these events and shows, and do let us know if you have friends, colleagues, and/or key firms you work with who may be interested in acquiring space at the World Jewelry Center in Las Vegas. As always, please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments.
WJC Company Profile: Gemstar—Eshed Diam
Avraham Eshed, the founder and president of Gemstar–Eshed Diam, has more than 35 years experience in the gem and jewelry industry. He was a founding member and director of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). Eshed has also held a number of other leadership positions, including president of B & I, a subsidiary of the Israeli Precious Stones Exchange; president of the Israel Emerald Manufacturers Association; chairman of the Precious Stones Section of the Israeli Diamond Manufacturers Association; and president of the Israel Emerald Cutters Association (current). Eshed is renowned as one of the pioneers of Israel's precious stones industry. In addition to diamonds, his first company, Gemstar, Ltd., continues to specialize in manufacturing fine emeralds from Zambia, and is one of the world's leading suppliers of those gemstones. Gemstar, Ltd. was awarded the title of Outstanding Exporter in 1989. WJC Managing Director Bill Boyajian said, "I have had the pleasure of knowing Avraham Eshed for 20 years, and I greatly respect his entrepreneurial skills, and the success that I've seen him achieve through those skills and his hard work." Boyajian added, "I'm absolutely delighted that a gemstone dealer of Avraham's stature shares the vision of the World Jewelry Center with us." "When I learned about the plans for the World Jewelry Center and that Bill Boyajian was going to be its managing director, I loved the idea," said Eshed. "I knew it would provide an excellent way for our company to expand while doing business in one of the most exciting cities in the world."
Spotlight on Union Park:
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UNION PARK - 2007 YEAR IN REVIEW VEGAS RETAIL ON A ROLL DEAL WITH SKY HIGH POTENTIAL: ANALYSTS SEE POSSIBILITIES IN LAND ACQUIRED WITH TOWER |
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If you would like further information about the World Jewelry Center please visit us at WORLDJEWELRYCENTER.COM or contact: |
Bill Boyajian Jerry Buckley Newsletter and Media Inquiries |
Jane Lynch-Rush Robin Bartolo General Inquiries |
In my June column, I mentioned the impact of our participation in Luxury by JCK and the JCK Las Vegas Show. We had an overflow crowd at our Champagne Reception/Executive Update and continuous traffic at our booths, resulting in 11 new signed Letters of Intent (LOI), and a host of additional letters awaiting signature. 
Gemstar—Eshed Diam is one of the industry's leading manufacturers of high-quality diamonds ranging from 3 to 25 carats. One of the earliest participating firms in the World Jewelry Center, the company has locations in Tel Aviv, New York, and Los Angeles.
"Being near the future site of The Smith Center is ideal for us," said Myron Martin, president of The Smith Center. "The new space is much larger than our previous office at Marnell Corporate Center. Not only is the new office larger and inviting, but part of the space will serve as a Preview Center, showcasing various aspects of The Smith Center. We are very excited to call Union Park home."
Another milestone The Smith Center reached was finalizing the interior design of the Center's 379,000 square foot complex. Acclaimed interior design firm HKS Interiors presented design options for the Education Center, back-of-house areas, and offices. "As we get closer to groundbreaking, it's very exciting to dive into the details of this project," explained Martin.
