Rotary Watches reopens distribution centre

Rotary Watches announced that it has reopened its distribution centre for a three-week period in order to service its retail partners and online orders. The centre has been open since the week commencing 4 May, and its continued operations will be reviewed at the end of the three-week period in…

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Birmingham Assay Office reopens gem lab amid Covid-19 pandemic

The Birmingham Assay Office has re-opened its gem lab and is now fully operational three days a week amid the Covid-19 crisis. Like many other businesses, the Birmingham Assay Office temporarily closed its doors on Tuesday 24 March for three weeks as stipulated by the government, but last month hallmarking…

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Baselworld 2021 cancelled

Organisers of Baselworld, the MCH Group, have confirmed that the 2021 event will no longer go ahead. The annual event, which was due to take place between 28 January and 2 February 2021, has been scrapped as the MCH Group said it had “reached an agreement” with representatives of exhibitors…

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41% of Brits start to use independent shops during Covid-19 lockdown

Some 41% of Brits have revealed they have been shopping at their local stores since the Covid-19 lockdown was introduced. According to a new study by comparison website finder.com, 36% of Brits surveyed plan to use their local stores more post lockdown. The study revealed the primary reason why shoppers…

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Business rates revaluation postponed until 2022

A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 in line with the government’s latest efforts to “reduce uncertainty” for firms affected by the ongoing pandemic.   Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed that legislation has now been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by…

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NAJ issues preliminary guidance for jewellery retailers

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has published new guidance to help jewellery stores across the UK and Ireland make preparations for when ‘lockdown’ is lifted. The association confirmed that this “non-exhaustive” and preliminary guidance would be the first of a number of versions that would be released over the…

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Theo Fennell silent auction raises £7,000 for charity 

Theo Fennell has donated over £7,000 to the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation’s Covid-19 Appeal through a series of silent auctions. The auctions in question featured “one-of-a-kind” pieces designed by creative director Theo Fennell in his design studio, with 15% of proceeds going towards the London-based foundation. The foundation, which raises…

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Furlough errors could cost small firms

SMEs are making errors on their applications for the Government’s furlough scheme, meaning they will have to repay thousands of pounds back to HMRC later, accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has said. The firm explained it has seen many small business applications for the furlough grant that includes the cost…

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Pandora maintains ‘strong financial position’ despite pandemic

Pandora said it is in a “strong financial position” to sustain a prolonged Covid-19 crisis, as it recorded “positive organic growth” in the first quarter of 2020.  Despite a recorded 14% drop in organic growth, its EBIT margin was 15.3% in the three months ended 31 March 2020.  The group…

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£100,000 of rings stolen from Beaverbrooks store

Police in Midlothian, Scotland are appealing for information following the theft of over 100 wedding rings worth over £100,000 from a Beaverbrooks store in Loanhead. The incident happened around 11.10pm on Friday, 1 May, 2020, at the jewellery store located within Straiton retail park. The suspect allegedly forced the metal…

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