Aurum Holdings, the owner of Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb, has braved the downturn and posted a 53 per cent rise in operating profits.

Mary Portas is once again seeking independent retailers for a brand new series for Channel 4. The programme makers would like to hear from retailers who are struggling to make their business a success and are looking for advice and guidance.

"After months of research for her government review on the state of our high street, Mary Portas is determined to do more to breathe life back into our local shopping areas," explain the producers. "In her new series, Mary will work with small, independent shops to implement some of her ideas. Shop by shop, she wants to transform the high street into a centre for socialising and deliver the kind of service that will give locals a reason to go there.

Pandora recently announced the closure of another 100 accounts in Australia and New Zealand. The decision was announced by Karin Adcock, president of Pandora Australia, who explained that Pandora was looking to continue to grow its brand and needed to change its distribution strategy.

Catherine Jones, founder of Catherine Jones Jewellery Limited in Cambridge, sadly passed away on 21 December 2011.

Pete Seeger marked his 60th birthday by raising money for cancer. The jeweller, who lives in Meols, originally pledged to raise £5,000 by taking part in a 200-mile cycle along the Nile, but finished the journey as Clatterbridge Cancer Research's fundraiser of the year, after having raised £14,800.

Online retailer Watchfinder has reported that like-for-like sales of pre-owned watches are up 39 per cent following the recent WF&Co rebranding.

The figures, which relate to sales in September, October, and November, follow a year of internal investment which has seen the number of staff grow to over 40; the introduction of the WF&Co group; a re-designed website; and a magazine.