Skip to main content

Atlanta Jewelry Show Expands Education Commitment With RetailFusion and BenchFusion Programs

AJS Retail FUSION & AJS Bench FUSION LogoReading Time: 5 minutes
Key Takeaways:

• The Atlanta Jewelry Show is launching RetailFusion and returning BenchFusion to provide comprehensive education for both retail management and technical bench skills.

• RetailFusion debuts on March 13, 2026, focusing on business operations, while BenchFusion runs March 14-15, 2026, offering 30 technical sessions on the show floor.

• Early registration for these programs is available through January 31, 2026, with discounted rates of $75 for RetailFusion and $150 for BenchFusion.

(Atlanta, Georgia) – The Atlanta Jewelry Show is strengthening its role as an industry steward by recognizing education as a core pillar of the event. Through BenchFusion and the newly launched RetailFusion program, the show is investing deliberately in both sides of the jewelry business equation: skilled craftsmanship and strong retail leadership.

AJS Retail FUSION & AJS Bench FUSION Logo

The Atlanta Jewelry Show has renewed its commitment to robust retail education with the return of pre-show education, now named RetailFusion. RetailFusion will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026, the day before the show officially opens, and is designed for jewelry store owners, managers, and key team members responsible for running healthy, profitable businesses.

RetailFusion brings together expertise across the disciplines that matter most in modern jewelry retail, including merchandising, sales, marketing, operations, leadership, finance, technology, gemology, and product development. The program emphasizes practical decision-making and real-world application, offering attendees tools and insight they can put to work immediately.

Speakers joining RetailFusion include Abe Sherman, Maarten de Witte, Andrea Hill, Lyn Falk, Dayna Brown, Tim Glasgow, William Jones, and Nathan Renfro. Additional speakers and sessions are being added as the program continues to develop.

RetailFusion is built around a simple goal: Help jewelry retailers navigate complex market conditions and make better decisions with greater confidence. Sessions are rigorous, based on real-world experience, and designed to clarify how different parts of the business fit together. Topics range from inventory and cash flow fundamentals to evolving customer behavior, digital marketing realities, team development, and the technologies reshaping retail and jewelry manufacturing. Lunch will be provided for RetailFusion attendees.

Early registration pricing for RetailFusion is $75 per person through January 31. After January 31, tickets will be $125 per person.

BenchFusion returns to the show floor with a two-day program focused on the full range of technical and management skills bench jewelers need to succeed today. Attendees can choose from approximately 30 sessions covering core bench techniques, problem-solving, materials, processes, and the realities of managing life at the bench.

This year’s BenchFusion speaker lineup includes highly respected educators and practitioners in the field, including Jason Chandler, Charles Lewton-Brain, Stewart Grice, and Peter Spector. These presenters are known for their technical expertise and for their ability to engage directly with working jewelers and address real-world challenges.

BenchFusion is unique in its setting and design. Sessions take place directly on the show floor, adjacent to the energy of the marketplace, while silent headset technology allows attendees to focus entirely on each presentation without distraction. This format creates an immersive, practical experience deeply connected to the broader show. Lunch is provided on both days to encourage conversation and peer connections between sessions.

Early registration pricing for BenchFusion is $150 per person through January 31. After January 31, tickets will be $200 per person.

Together, BenchFusion and RetailFusion reflect the Atlanta Jewelry Show’s belief that education is not an add-on, but a central part of the trade show experience. By bringing learning directly into the heart of the show, the Association aims to support both the craft and the commerce that sustain the jewelry industry.

Produced by the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association, the Atlanta Jewelry Show exists to return value to its members, exhibitors, and attendees through education, connection, and ethical industry leadership.

Additional details, session updates, and registration information for BenchFusion and RetailFusion are available at atlantajewelryshow.com.

Atlanta Jewelry Show Spring: March 14-15, 2026

RetailFusion, March 13, 2026
BenchFusion, March 14-15, 2026

About the Atlanta Jewelry Show

Founded in 1950, the Atlanta Jewelry Show, produced by the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association (SJTA), a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association, is one of the most respected trade events in the United States, offering a welcoming, relationship-focused environment where retailers and suppliers connect, learn, and grow together.

The post Atlanta Jewelry Show Expands Education Commitment With RetailFusion and BenchFusion Programs appeared first on Southern Jewelry News.



from Southern Jewelry News https://ift.tt/Y9Tx2N4

Popular posts from this blog

Botswana’s ODC Halts All Rough Sales

Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has halted all rough sales as global demand remains at record low levels. It says it has cancelled its November auction and may do likewise in December. “For the first time, we have had to build up inventory as we do not want to just irresponsibly release goods into a market […] The post Botswana’s ODC Halts All Rough Sales appeared first on The Jewelry Magazine . from The Jewelry Magazine https://ift.tt/ulKAeoZ

Furry Friends on the Job: Say hello to Ember of Jewelry Savers

Reading Time: < 1 minute Say hello to Ember! Ember is an adorable and spunky 2-year-old Shih Tzu. She works at Jewelry Savers in Wichita, Kansas. While not busy with her store greeter duties, Ember can often be found sleeping in one of her three different dog beds. She just loves a good tummy rub and is wonderful with children visitors. In addition to her greeter responsibilities she is a confident and elegant jewelry model. The entire staff at Jewelry Savers is grateful for Ember’s love and hard work. See all our Furry friends Do you have a furry friend that helps out in your store? Tell us about it and send a picture to  bill@southernjewelrynews.com . The post Furry Friends on the Job: Say hello to Ember of Jewelry Savers appeared first on Southern Jewelry News . from Southern Jewelry News https://ift.tt/aRmKvZy

The Story Behind the Stone: Metal Mashup

Reading Time: 6 minutes I have to confess I just learned about electrum when this topic crawled up on my radar. We love the wide range of jewelry metals today that give consumers tremendous options for creating the exact piece of their dreams. Metal alloys are some of the more exciting variations for imaginative jewelry designers to work with. These options better reflect the tastes of a client and help them to personalize their jewelry, making it truly unique to them. Brooch with a griffin, from the necropolis of Kameiros, Rhodes, c.  625–600 BC (Louvre). Natural Alloy One topic catching my eye at the moment is a rare and naturally occurring metal alloy – electrum. This word, electrum may be uncommon to modern society, but it’s a Latin word derived from the Greek electron mentioned in the Odyssey referring to a metallic substance consisting of gold alloyed with silver. Electrum was usually called white gold in antiquity. But more accurately it was described as pale gold since ...