Argos to trial 3D printed customisable jewellery

Argos has announced that it is to trial a jewellery collection that can be customised and 3D printed to order, before being dispatched to the customer.  Using a newly launched website, customers will be able to select accessories from a range of 10 items initially, add their own personal touches,…

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Net loss of UK stores almost triples in 2014

Nearly three times as many shops disappeared from UK high streets last year compared with 2013, according to new figures released today.  The research from PwC, compiled by the Local Data Company (LDC), found that 5,839 stores closed in 2014 compared to 4,852 openings. This equates to a net reductions…

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‘Radical’ review of business rates underway

A “radical” review of the business rates system has been launched which could pave the way for changes to how businesses across England pay tax, the Treasury has said.  The review, which is set to report back for the Budget in 2016, will examine the structure of the current system…

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February footfall figures dip marginally

Footfall in February was 0.5% lower than a year ago, however it marked an improvement on the 1.2% fall in January.  This is according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor which found the decline was above the three-month average of -0.8% and the best overall performance…

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Goldsmiths’ Company to stage jewellery careers event

London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall will host what it claims is the UK’s ‘biggest’ careers event for students of jewellery and allied trades. Make Your Mark, which will be hosted on April 17 and 18, follows on from its inaugural event last year which attracted over 800 students from across the British…

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Watchfinder posts record £36m turnover

Watchfinder has announced a record-breaking year in 2014, chalking up annual turnover of £36m. The company has been profitable since founding in 2002, however growth over the past year has been more rapid thanks to a round of external investment, a new store opening, growing trust in the brand, and…

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Weston Beamor designer wins ‘Gem-A Award’ for second year running

Joanna Fronczak-Jabbal, a CAD (computer-aided design) designer at Birmingham casting house and 3D printing company, Weston Beamor, has won the Gem-A Gold Award for the second consecutive year.  The award, from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, was awarded to Fronczak-Jabbal at the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards which…

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Stable footfall growth established for UK retailers

UK retail fall rose for the third consecutive month in February, the longest singular period of year-on-year growth since 2007.  This is according to the Retail Traffic Index (RTI) from global retail and footfall consultant Ipsos Retail Performance, which is derived from the number of individual shoppers entering over 4,000…

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Hallmarking figures climb in February

The total number of articles hallmarked across all four of the UK’s assay offices saw a 7.9% increase in February, compared with the same month last year.  According to the data (compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office), there was a total of 55,419 more articles hallmarked in February this year…

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WFDB highlights falling profits at executive meeting

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has highlighted the falling profits of polished diamonds at an executive meeting in China.   The discussion took place at the WFDB executive committee meeting and Asia-Pacific presidents’ summit held in Shanghai on March 9 and 10. Regional WFDB presidents, including president Ernie…

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