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FOUND BY GEMS AND MINERALS: How we started. What we've become. 

 
By Brad Hicks, Xpo Press Owner/Publisher

Freshly fired from my telecom/data sales management position with XO Communications I bought a six-pack of Fat Tire and parked my car behind a WalMart in Westminster, Colorado, not far from my house. 
 
Fired. Team sales quotas not being met. Really? Ugh! What was I going to do next? I dreaded the thought as I slowly and anxiously sipped the hoppy Fort Collins brew. Though I was grateful for my now-former job, telecom/data sales was not my strongest suit and nowhere near what I enjoyed or desired as a career. I had been trained as a journalist and publisher — starting magazines is what I had been doing since college, dozens of them. Maybe this setback was a difficult-to-recognize doorway to getting back to my heart's desire.

That was December 2001, and, no, I couldn't have imagined the idea of doing anything vocationally with gems, minerals, fossils, and jewelry in that cold, lonely parking lot. Heck, at that time, I couldn't even imagine the idea of an expo or show that peddled gems and minerals. Was there any money in rocks?

But gems, minerals, and rocks found me after I launched back into starting my own publishing company — as I'd done throughout most of the 1990s. And it was mineral and fossil show promoters Marty Zinn and Regina Aumente (of, then, Martin Zinn Expositions) who are most responsible for my company's weird foray into this interesting industry. After a lunch that the three of us shared at El Rancho Restaurant in Evergreen, Colorado, I agreed to produce full-color guides for all of MZE's gem, mineral, and fossil shows. Looking back, as a result of that fateful meeting, a very rock-y direction was forged for our young company.

In February 2002, Xpo Press was incorporated in Colorado, and we were soon on our way to helping gem, mineral, and jewelry shows and dealers everywhere advertise and sell their sparkly wares. 2022 heralds our 20th year publishing EZ-Guides™ and providing outstanding publicity — in print, online, and mobile app advertising — for spectacular gem shows around the world and the amazing companies who sell at them. 

For years now, this website has been the most visited in the online world by viewers (715,000 annual visitors) searching for updated and accurate information about these kinds of shows — particularly the Grandaddy of them all, the Tucson Showcase of Gems, Minerals & Jewelry held annually in January-February. I hope that what our company provides is helpful to you and genuinely makes your gem show experience just a little "EZ-er."

We know the show! 
 
 
 

Brad Hicks
Owner

Debbie Lewis
Admin Manager

Tammy Hemingway
Ad Manager/Graphic Designer
 

Helen Serras-Herman
Staff Writer

Susan Branson
Bookkeeper

Rachel Ford
Social Media Director
 


GEM SHOW INSIDER NEWS

Exciting New Changes Coming to Xpo Press
Exciting New Changes Coming to Xpo Press
R. Ford - 3/13/2024
We're Making Moves at Xpo Press Gem Show Insider! Hey there, gem show enthusiasts! We're behind the scenes at Xpo Press Gem Show Insider, making exciting changes to improve your experience! We're working hard to move things around on our social medi...
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The International Gem & Jewelry Show Chantilly (Feb.) 2024
The International Gem & Jewelry Show Chantilly (Feb.) 2024
International Gem and Jewelry Show Chantilly (February)
R. Ford - 2/16/2024
#GEMAD Member The International Gem & Jewelry Show Chantilly (Feb.) February 16-18, 2024 Dulles Expo Center (South Hall), Chantilly, Virginia Friday, 12pm-6pm, Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday, 11am-5pm This marketplace has become an essential part of bus...
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Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® 2024
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® 2024
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show®
R. Ford - 2/6/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show® February 8-11, 2024 Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church St., Tucson Daily 10-6, final day 10-4 The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, Inc. proudly presents the Tuc...
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Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver to be sold in May 2024
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver to be sold in May 2024
R. Ford - 2/2/2024
  RMGM Promotions Announcement Denver Rockhounds! RMGM Shows Shine On in 2024! Dear Rockhounds & Rockstars, While the wind may be swirling around the news of the sale of the Crowne Plaza Hotel to the cit...
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Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair 2024 - Quartzsite
Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair 2024 - Quartzsite
Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair
R. Ford - 2/2/2024
#GEMAD Member Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Fair February 2-11, 2024 121 W. Kuehn St., Quartzsite, Arizona Open daily 9-5 Tyson Wells is home to the largest show of its kind. It will take days to see it all. This arts & crafts fair is a buyer’s and selle...
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SNAG@Tucson - New Show - Tucson 2024
SNAG@Tucson - New Show - Tucson 2024
SNAG@Tucson
R. Ford - 2/1/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 Society of North American Goldsmiths' SNAG@Tucson February 1-3, 2024 Cathedral Square Center, 192 S Stone Ave., Tucson, Arizona Thurs. February 1st, 4-8 pm, Fri. February 2nd, 10 am-6 pm, Sat...
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AGTA GemFair™ Tucson 2024
AGTA GemFair™ Tucson 2024
AGTA GemFair™ Tucson
R. Ford - 1/30/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) GemFair™ Tucson January 30 - February 4, 2024 Tucson Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona GemHall & Galleria / Daily 10-6, final day 10-4 The Grand Ballroo...
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African Art Village 2024 - Tucson
African Art Village 2024 - Tucson
African Art Village
R. Ford - 1/29/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 Tucson African Art Village January 27 - February 11, 2024 221 S. Avenida Del Convento (I-10 & Congress), Tucson, Arizona Daily 8-6 At African Art Village you can find a wide variety of items ...
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Mineral & Fossil Marketplace 2024 - Tucson
Mineral & Fossil Marketplace 2024 - Tucson
Mineral & Fossil Marketplace
R. Ford - 1/29/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 Mineral & Fossil Marketplace January 27 - February 10, 2024 1333 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, Arizona Daily 10-6 The Mineral & Fossil Marketplace is excited to have several new exhibitors bringing ...
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G&LW, Inc. Tucson Gem Show / Holidome 2024 - Tucson
G&LW, Inc. Tucson Gem Show / Holidome 2024 - Tucson
G&LW Tucson Gem Show / Holidome
R. Ford - 1/29/2024
#GEMAD Member - Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase 2024 G&LW, Inc. Tucson Gem Show / Holidome January 27 - February 4, 2024 4475 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, Arizona Opens 10am to 6pm Daily G&LW will be celebrating its 50th year in Tucson at the 2...
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