By Hemang Palan

Twitter/X: @hemang_palan

The commercial ecosystem for jewellery exhibitions and women-focused lifestyle shows in Gujarat is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a 15% to 20% annual turnover growth across key consumer sectors. As India's manufacturing hub for both traditional ornaments and fashion pieces, Gujarat's B2B and B2C exhibition markets serve as primary engines for retail expansion, regional distribution, and also direct consumer sales.

Interestingly, shopping at lifestyle and pop-up exhibitions offers a distinct, experiential alternative to traditional malls and online stores. Unlike commercial malls, exhibitions facilitate retail buyers to establish an immediate connect with the brand owners, designers and makers. It is one of the prime reasons that have made exhibitions popular amongst retail consumers in India, especially amongst ladies and teenage girls.
​​​​​​​

“Consumers get to know the uniqueness of each product displayed for retail sales in an exhibition. It is an amazing experience for every buyer. Moreover, exhibitions are occasion oriented and such events tend to offer unique sales services to the vast base of women consumers of India. And, women oriented exhibitions are generally highly profitable and successful. Usually, one of the goals is to also support women empowerment,” said Baroda-based Ekta Kadakia – a women entrepreneur and promoter of EKAYA jewellery brand.

The fashion and artificial jewellery sector in India, where Gujarat commands over 40% of national production (centered in cities like Rajkot, Morbi, Bagasra, Surendranagar, etc), has fuelled a 20% annual growth rate. This broader regional sector is projected to maintain a strong trajectory going forward. Backed by the state's Industries Commissionerate, Gujarat’s comprehensive gems and jewellery sector maintains an expected long-term annual growth rate of at least 15%. The local imitation and silver jewellery hub in Rajkot alone registers an annual turnover of Rs 3,000 crores, demonstrating the massive inventory scale fuelling these exhibitions.  Factoring in regional ladies oriented retail events held frequently in Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara, the collective direct turnover generated exclusively within these jewellery exhibition venues continues to clock over Rs 500 crore annually in Gujarat.