Retailers warned to prepare for ‘serial returners’ this Black Friday

Retailers should prepare for an increase in customer returns from ‘serial returners’ – shoppers who deliberately over-purchase and return unwanted items. Barclaycard Spend data shows that online spending rocketed 15.1% on Black Friday last year compared with the same time in 2014. It has predicted another wave of online activity…

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Stay insured whatever the weather

Retail jewellers are arguably the businesses most vulnerable to break-ins and theft anywhere on the high street. Few if any other retailers have such a high-value collection of stock sitting in a room for all to see. Could there be anything more appealing for a burglar than a cabinet containing…

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Investigations underway following Preston jewellery store raid

Police have opened investigations after a raid at a jewellery store in Preston, Lancashire, saw thieves make off with a quantity of jewellery. Officers were called to Hackler’s Jewellers, in Lune Street, at around 8am on Sunday 20 November following reports of a burglary in the city. It is believed…

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Orkney-based student wins jewellery design competition

A student from the Orkney islands, Scotland, is set to have her range of contemporary jewellery designs brought to life after winning a competition. Historic Environment Scotland partnered with Orkney-based jewellery manufacturer, Ortak, to challenge students across the country to design a range of jewellery inspired by Maeshowe Chambered Cairn…

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Retailers ‘bullish’ for Black Friday and Christmas sales

Retailers are optimistic that they will achieve a positive result in their biggest sales period, with most anticipating increased revenues on Black Friday and across the Christmas period. The Barclays Christmas Survey 2016 found the majority of retailers are more confident about Christmas trading compared with 2015 (60%), with just…

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October online sales growth at highest since Black Friday 2014

The value of online retail sales grew 18.9% in October compared with the same month last year – the highest year-on-year growth rate for any month since Black Friday 2014. The latest IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index found the growth was up on a comparatively low rate in October 2015,…

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Coloured diamonds steal show at Geneva auction

Coloured diamonds remain “highly desirable”, according to auction house Sotheby’s following its recent jewellery sale in Geneva. Leading the show was a 17.07-carat emerald-cut Fancy Intense Pink diamond that soared over its pre-sale estimate of 11.81m to 14.76m Swiss Francs (£9.5m-£11.8m) to sell for 20.8m Swiss francs (£16.7m). An Internally…

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Hatton Garden BID launches area’s first ‘Christmas gift guide’

The Hatton Garden Business Improvement District (BID) has launched the jewellery quarter’s first Christmas gift guide, in a bid to capitalise on festive spending. Created to promote Hatton Garden and its fine jewellery offering, the guide will showcase over 50 pieces of jewellery including precious designs, bespoke pieces and luxury…

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High street struggles to ‘meet demand of time-poor and tech-savvy customers’

High street retailers are struggling to meet the demand of time-poor and tech-savvy customers, according to a new study new research from Barclaycard. The survey of 2,000 UK adults found increasingly busy and technology-savvy shoppers cite lack of time as a primary reason for buying online more often (32%), with…

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Patek Philippe watch fetches record £8.8m at auction

A Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel established a new world record for any wristwatch to be sold at auction when it went under the hammer on the weekend. The timepiece – believed to be one of only four of its type to exist – was sold at Phillips’…

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