‘IIJS will be my first virtual show and by the way buyer registration are increasing day by day and expected to reach 10,000 buyers, we will surely rock it’

Chetan Kumar Mehta, the chairman and MD of Laxmi Diamonds, Bangalore says that sales will improve in the next six months because India swears by jewellery when it comes to investments

What are your thoughts on the IIJS Virtual?

IIJS is one of the unique platforms that has gone online. This will be the first virtual show that I will be attending. I have heard of many such shows but was never confident about buying without touching the jewellery. But, because of Covid, it has become imperative to take business online now. IIJS is a trusted name and the perfect start to my digital journey. I think it will be a very fruitful association. I am looking forward to it and we will rock at IIJS, I am sure of it.

What new collections are you showcasing at the IIJS?

Every year we prepare for IIJS with innovative and lightweight diamond collections. This time too, we are launching a collection called “Heritage Diamond Jewellery” which is a 5,000-year-old legacy that we carry. It is lightweight, close-setting diamond pieces, which are exquisitely crafted to suit the growing demand for the precious stone. It’s also handmade. This is new in the market and will create a boom. A lot of retailers will want it, I am sure.

What is your advice to retailers on the next 6 months? Do you think you will recuperate and match the sales from last year?

I think we have learnt a lot in these six months. We spoke to the manufacturing points and rectified the mistakes we were making. The six-month thought is a huge thing. Jewellery is deeply intertwined with the Indian lifestyle, so I expect very good business in the next six months. I can see good sales pan-India. Within 6 months, things will get back on track normally. The worst is over. The festive and wedding seasons will boost our business. People have cut back a lot on luxury spends, so all that investment will come to our sector, because jewellery is the best asset in life. We will grow exponentially, like we did last year.

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller India News Service