Sitting down with Marco Carniello, World Exhibition Director Jewelry & Style IEG, at VicenzaOro

I all the time 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 individuals. 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 communicate 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 all the time about his workforce. Simply observe how few individuals on the prime try this. This obvious lack of ego is a welcome element in a world the place individuals like to get credit score for what truly took a workforce to perform. 

If you happen to’ve seen Marco Carniello strolling across the commerce honest, you could not have missed him; this cycling-loving World 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 objectives. He by no means talks about himself however all the time 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 little thing 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 statement. Friday was noticeably much less crowded than in earlier editions on the identical opening day. Marco folds his palms and smiles. “Effectively 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 honest: +6%), which is predicted to say no additional. However that is high-quality as a result of when you will have a shockwave, even a constructive one like in latest occasions, it causes numerous points. The complete provide chain could be affected, and merchandise could not make it to the shops on time.”

“The market is consolidating; it would really feel completely different from the celebration 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 enough 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 is perhaps 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 constructive atmosphere. We’re right here for the group that folks 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 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 various Joyful Hours (with DJs, music, drinks, and snacks open air), particularly within the metropolis of Vicenza, the place there’s a lot to do. The distinctive worth is that we create the best situations 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 change into extra impressed, that they’ve made no less than one worthwhile new contact, and that they’ve found one new provider. The typical purchaser stays right here for 2 days, so we hope our hashtag #discovermore has labored for them. We work onerous to change into the showcase for developments. Our advertising workforce may be very lively in strengthening this picture on-line and offline; all the way down to the smallest particulars, he factors to a blue transferring decoration in every single place on the honest. 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’ve got 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 resolve 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 individuals 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 concerning the benchmarking Marco Carniello talked about earlier. How does he truly try this? “We primarily have a look at commerce reveals like JCK (USA) and Hong Kong and generally borrow their improvements, and so they generally borrow ours. We truly need your expertise,” he nods in the direction of us and the guests within the lounge, “to be no less than as pleasing as at these festivals, however ideally even higher. We do not see ourselves in competitors with these festivals however extra as ‘co-opetition’ (as in Dubai, the place VO is a part of the honest). It is vital to maintain transferring, to innovate as a result of commerce reveals are an older enterprise mannequin.”

That is why we’re continually testing new codecs like VO’Clock, the place the watch group has already related on-line nicely prematurely and the place we offer the chance for a bodily gathering. We by no means pressure the subjects that the assorted authorities and specialists carry to the stage. We’re not the authority; we’re a platform.

To have a motive 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 great combine within the completely different halls is crucial and a mirrored image of what patrons are on the lookout for, says Marco Carniello. “We actively search suggestions from patrons,” he nods. We host 400 of them and provide numerous loyalty packages to 1000’s of others. Suggestions is vastly vital to Marco and his workforce as a result of every little thing ensures that the customer 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 will likely 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