Sitting down with Marco Carniello, International Exhibition Director Jewelry & Style 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. 

 

Each time I communicate with Marco Carniello, I am struck by his modest, partaking 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 high try 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. 

For those who’ve seen Marco Carniello strolling across the commerce truthful, you could not have missed him; this cycling-loving International Director of Style 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 Crew 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 “basic mannequin” and influencer, Manon Crespi, is getting the whole lot able to shoot an Instagram reel with Marco shortly. Michela Moneta, his proper hand for all issues advertising, retains observe of time and solutions.

The primary query is extra of an remark. 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 important will increase in earlier editions, even a +20%. Now, we’re seeing a +9% (correction on the finish of the truthful: +6%), which is anticipated to say no additional. However that is advantageous as a result of when you have got a shockwave, even a optimistic one like in current occasions, it causes numerous points. The complete provide chain might be affected, and merchandise could not make it to the shops on time.”

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

“We additionally count on much less buying; inventories are nonetheless enough in lots of circumstances,” says Marco Carniello. Nevertheless, consumers, 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 is perhaps heading within the subsequent 18 months, and what the developments are. We pleasure 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 kind 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 data and training. We’re additionally the networking platform. That is why we make investments closely in occasions each on the truthful and round it, like the various 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 needs to focus primarily on enterprise, hinting on the innate Italian aptitude for expressing feelings. That they’ve turn out to be extra impressed, that they’ve made no less than one priceless 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 laborious to turn out to be the showcase for developments. Our advertising workforce could be very lively in strengthening this picture on-line and offline; all the way down to the smallest particulars, he factors to a blue shifting decoration in every single place on the truthful. We need to be a cool, hip, and vibrant atmosphere. That is why we’re more and more branding ourselves as an organization. We need to be synonymous with the phrase “developments.” He laughs and says, “It have to be our Italian character!”

We need to be a benchmark for operational excellence. We now have to be absolutely efficient. Vicenza is a small metropolis; we’re probably not outfitted for giant teams of individuals. There is no airport right here, no 5-star inns. That is why it is as much as us to make sure that the customer’s journey goes as easily as potential once they determine to return right here. And that is mirrored on our web site; all the knowledge is geared in direction of making it as simple as potential for the customer. Marco emphasizes what is usually underestimated: the appreciation for the trouble folks put into attending a commerce truthful. There have to be a way of ROI for the customer, and the VicenzaOro workforce clearly feels that duty.

, I inquired additional concerning the benchmarking Marco Carniello talked about earlier. How does he really try 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 direction of us and the guests within the lounge, “to be no less than as fulfilling 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 truthful). It is essential 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 pressure the matters that the varied authorities and consultants deliver to the stage. We’re not the authority; we’re a platform.

To have a motive to exist, a platform like a commerce truthful should present what the visiting jewellery or watch skilled wants. The truthful has observed a requirement for extra pearls and is discussing this with Japan. A great combine within the totally different halls is crucial and a mirrored image of what consumers are in search of, says Marco Carniello. “We actively search suggestions from consumers,” he nods. We host 400 of them and provide numerous loyalty packages to 1000’s of others. Suggestions is vastly essential to Marco and his workforce as a result of the whole lot 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 will probably be celebrated can be revealed to the press in a particular second in mid-October. We’re excited and eagerly wanting ahead to January 2024!

Subsequent dates of VicenzaOro

19-23 January 2024

6-10 September 2024