Consumer confidence at four-year high in Q3

Consumer confidence has reached a four-year high in the third quarter of 2015, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker. The quarterly survey of 3,000 UK consumers said that consumers have shrugged off the turmoil seen in the global financial markets during the period. Consumer confidence rose by 2%, despite…

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NPA announce annual award winners

The National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) has announced the winners of its annual awards ceremony, held in London last week. Held on Friday October 16, the event saw pawnbrokers from across the country congregate at the Victoria Park Plaza hotel to celebrate and recognise excellence within the industry. Ray Perry, chief…

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Hatton Garden thief shows police where he hid loot

Police investigating the Hatton Garden robbery have recovered what is believed to be some of the stolen property after one of the raiders led them to his share of the loot. Daniel Jones, 58, who pleaded guilty to plotting the raid last month, is believed to have been accompanied by…

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Online sales returned to double-digit growth in September

Online retail sales in the UK returned to double-digit growth in September following a weak August, according to new figures released today. That is according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index which found online retail sales in the UK were up 12% in September when compared with the…

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Alrosa president ‘concerned’ over synthetic diamonds

Andrey Zharkov, president of Russian diamond mining company Alrosa, has warned that the diamond industry is suffering from reputation risks due to synthetic stones. Speaking at the World Diamond Council (WDC) in Moscow on Tuesday, October 13, Zharkov said that the industry should be concerned by “growing occasions” on the…

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F Hinds’ Trafford Centre opens following £300,000 refurb

Jewellery chain F Hinds has re-opened its store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre following a £300,000 refurbishment. The store, which re-opened on Friday, October 9, features a large plasma TV screen, modern display cabinets and more space to display an increased selection of watch and jewellery brands. Director Neil Hinds said…

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Mococo founders named Business People of the Year at local awards

Lee and Maureen Hooson, founders of jewellery retailer Mococo, have been named Independent Business People of the Year at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards. The husband-and-wife team and joint managing directors of the company scooped the accolade at a black tie ceremony held in Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel. Maureen said: “I’m…

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Inter City Group becomes UK distributor of Ice-Watch

Inter City Group, the UK’s largest privately held watch manufacturer and supplier, has been appointed by Ice-Watch as its new distributor in the UK. Inter City Group will begin distribution of Ice-Watch in the UK with immediate effect, with a new price strategy and new collections for autumn and winter.…

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Polished diamond prices continue decline in September

Diamond suppliers are under pressure as polished prices fell even further in September, according to figures released today by Rapaport. The latest RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) saw the price of 1-carat laboratory-graded diamonds drop 3% during the month. RAPI for 0.30-carat diamonds declined 2.7%, while RAPI for 0.50-carat diamonds slipped…

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Largest database of stolen watches launched

The Art Loss Register, the world’s largest private database of stolen art and collectibles, has launched a new service called the Watch Register. The Watch Register – a database of over 50,000 timepieces – is the largest searchable database of watches available for due diligence. Each search costs £2 with…

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