Autumn Budget 2018: Business rates cut for SMEs and new digital services tax

Chancellor Philip Hammond has confirmed plans to give smaller retailers a 33% cut to business rates and introduced a new digital services tax for companies with at least £500m in global revenue. The reduction in rates will take place over the next two years and is expected to save businesses…

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How to bring in the crowds

My students tell me that when there is downtime in their stores it is difficult to keep themselves motivated. They like the action and want to make more sales, what should they do? I answer them: Take some of the responsibility yourself for slow sales and start bringing in the…

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Voice on the High Street: Jeremy France Jewellers

Name: Jeremy France, Jeremy France Jewellers Location: Winchester Year Established: 1990 Number of staff: 20 Website: www.jeremyfrancejewellers.co.uk Tell us about your business Since opening our doors in Winchester in 1990, we have offered a diverse selection of the finest jewellery, striving to not only meet our customers expectations but exceed…

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Trollbeads launches new ‘Stardust’ winter 2018 collection

Jewellery retailer Trollbeads has launched its new Winter 2018 Collection called ‘Stardust’, inspired by the “loving and joyful atmosphere” of the festive season. According to the group “hearts, stars and sparkling golden shades invite you to enjoy the upcoming season”, and the collection features 15 new pieces designed by Lise…

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Here’s what CAD/CAM has already done to the jewellery industry

Given how fast 3D printing and jewellery CAD technology have been changing since these questions were first asked at an IJL talk in 2006, I think every UK business should be aware of how far jewellery CAD/CAM has grown since that time. For starters, CAD is no longer changing the…

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Alrosa pilots GIA’s M2M programme

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has announced that Alrosa, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds, is piloting the Institute’s M2M program. M2M is a digital platform that brings together GIA’s ability to scientifically match rough diamonds to the resulting polished gems with information from each step in the value…

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Voice on the High Street: Francis Wain Jewellers

Name: Donné Kidson, Francis Wain Jewellers Location: Norfolk Year Established: 1950 Number of staff: 15 Website: www.franciswainjewellers.com Give us a bit of background about the business We are a long-established independent jewellers based in Norfolk with two branches, our flagship store in King’s Lynn and a smaller boutique in the…

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Robbers who stole £500k worth of jewellery jailed

Two men who carried out a £500,000 armed jewellery robbery at the Mappin and Webb boutique at Gleneagles Hotel have been jailed. At the High Court in Edinburgh Richard Fleming, 42, and Liam Richardson, 30, were sentenced to 18 years and 11 years and four months respectively. The pair were…

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Silversmith J.A Campbell set to close after 60 years

Brentwood-based silversmiths J.A Campbell has announced it is set to close after 60 years in the business. The company was founded by John and Barbara Campbell and is one of the few companies to still use traditional sterling silversmith methods After a pre-apprenticeship course at the Central School of Arts…

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Three Minute Interview: Southern Dem Displays

Describe yourself in three words?   Honest, dynamic, proactive. When you were at school, what did you want to be and why? A civil engineer, I always wanted to build and make things and it looked like an interesting career at 13 years old. How did you get to be…

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