Being helpful and upfront are groundrules for exhibition organizers, says Mrs. Ben-jaratana Nophakoon, executive director of Management & Convention Consultancy.

            Taking 21 Thai jewelry companies to the JA New York International Jewelry Show in mid-July required groundwork no less than three years, Mrs. Ben-jaratana told JewelSiam. A five-year arrangement at JA, now with 11 more Thai companies on the waiting list, is likely to firm up, she said.

            Exhibitors study which is the best show, and to that and other major international shows they go. “Whatever expense, it is expense,” she said. “I work for the Thai people, my customers and at the same time the show organizers.”

            Honesty begets honesty, and so Mrs. Ben-jaratana advices interested companies to get their finances and personnel in order and to set log-term projects. M.C. (Thailand) otherwise arranges everything including an official shipping company and brokerage, she says.

            “When I organize, I really am honest with them. I try to solve their problems, take care of brokerage and explain taxation, anything that could become a very big problem,” she said.

            Twenty-one years ago, a Thai company marketed 9-karat jewelry as 14-karat at one show, which got the firm blacklisted. In another incident, customs officials body searched Thai jewelers for smuggled jewelry. “An innocent mistake can be corrected but one that is deliberate is not so easily corrected,” she said.

            The “Thailand Jewelers Group” represented at the JA Show included:

            -- Am Thai Jewelry Co. Ltd.

            -- Anchalee Products

            -- Blue River Diamond Co. Ltd.

            -- Chairajpak Co. Ltd.

            -- Diamrusa Co. Ltd.

            -- D.R.A Gad Inc.

            -- Essex International Co. Ltd.

            -- Fabrikant (Thailand) Ltd.

            -- Julie’s Gems Co. Ltd.

            -- Naparatana Co. Ltd.

            -- Nida Factory Co. Ltd.

            -- N.P. gems Factory Ltd. Part.

            -- Oro Co. Ltd.

            -- Petch Boran Co. Ltd.

            -- Ploy Pailin Jewelry Mfg. Co. Ltd.

            -- Pranda Jewelry Co. Ltd.

            -- Queen’s Design Inc. Co. Ltd.

            -- Royce Jewelry Co. Ltd.

            -- S.C. Jewelry Mfg. Co. Ltd.

            -- Thien Po Jewelry Ltd.

            -- White gems Co. Ltd.