Bumper June footfall sees record increase of 11.4%

UK retailers benefited from record month-on-month growth in footfall for June, with a 11.4% increase in high street traffic compared with May. Compared with the same period last year, footfall was 7.8% lower, but June did deliver a reduction in the year-on-year deficit for the fourth successive month, data from…

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WFDB announces Peter Meeus to head World Diamond Mark

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has announced that former Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) president Peter Meeus will take over as head of its World Diamond Mark (WDM) programme. The World Diamond Mark is a non-for-profit organisation incorporated in Hong Kong, established in 2012 by the World Federation of…

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Long queues ‘costing retailers £12bn’

Long queues have been named the biggest turn-off for UK shoppers and could be costing retailers up to £12bn a year in potential sales losses. According to research released by payments platform Adyen, paired with 451 Research’s ‘Global Unified Commerce Forecast’, British retailers are struggling to keep up with increasing…

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Police launch appeal for ‘large scale’ theft at Newey’s Jewellers

West Midland Police are appealing for information following a large scale theft in Vyse Street in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, which occurred just after midday on 4 July. According to reports three men jumped out of a black Mazda CX-5 car on the road and approached a man who was…

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SVP Jewellery to be represented by Middleton Green

Ethical jewellery brand SVP Jewellery has named Middleton Green fashion agency to handle its wholesale accounts. SVP Jewellery, founded by owner and designer Sarah Parham in 2015, is the only jewellery brand that has signed with Middleton Green. The agency, established by Vanessa Green and Julie Middleton in 2010, will…

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200,000 companies sued over business rates

Over 200,000 businesses were taken to a Magistrates court for failing to pay for businesses rates under the first year of the new business rates revaluation, an investigation has revealed. Real estate advisor Altus Group collated information procured under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) from all councils in England.…

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Goldsmiths reveals newly-refurbished Birmingham store

High street jeweller Goldsmiths has launched its newly-transformed Birmingham store following a £1m investment. Located in Birmingham’s Bullring leisure and retail centre, the showroom re-opened with a new shop-fit and a 52 sq mt dedicated watch room. Craig Bolton, Goldsmiths executive director, said: “We’re delighted to reopen our Bullring showroom…

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Synthdetect shortlisted for industry innovation awards

The International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR), part of De Beers Group, has announced Synthdetect, has been shortlisted as a finalist for Industry Innovation of the Year in this year’s JNA Awards. Synthdetect, launched last year, is the first synthetic diamond screening device to simultaneously test multiple stones…

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Retail sales fall for fifth consecutive month

Retail sales fell for the fifth month in a row in June, data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker has shown. Total in-store like-for-like sales were down 1.7% compared with last year, when the figures rose 1.3%. It is also the ninth consecutive month that sales growth figures have failed…

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Goldsmiths’ Fair graduate bursary programme winners revealed

The annual Goldsmiths’ Fair selling exhibition has revealed the winners of its graduate bursary programme. The 10 graduates – who were selected from over 100 applicants – will receive: A free stand at Goldsmiths’ Fair A £1500 bursary Up to £3000 precious metal loan Customised training via the Goldsmiths’ Centre…

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