(PRESS RELEASE) ATLANTA, GA — 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.
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. Pricing for RetailFusion is $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.
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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 fully on each presentation without distraction. This format creates an immersive, practical experience deeply connected to the broader show. Lunch is provided on both days, encouraging conversation and peer connection between sessions. Pricing for BenchFusion is $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
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