ADVICE: Building your first Ecommerce store – What you need to know

1. Domain name Previously it was good practice to choose a domain name which included lots of keywords e.g. BirminghamGoldJewellerySpecialist.co.uk. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) experts now think choosing a more memorable brand name is a better approach. Check availability at https://www.heartinternet.uk/domain-names  British businesses wishing to attract domestic customers should use a ‘.co.uk’…

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Stella Layton named new Jewellery Quarter chairman

Stella Layton, the chief executive and assay master of the Birmingham Assay Office, has been named as the new chairman of the town’s Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT).  Layton succeeds David Mahony, managing director of PCPT Architects. The JQDT, formed in May 2011, is a community interest company that operates…

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Shop thefts top £600m in 2014

The value of thefts affecting British retailers has reached its highest level in a decade, despite the overall volume of incidents falling, according to this year’s BRC Retail Crime Survey, released today.  There were an estimated three million offences against UK retailers in 2013 to 2014, a decline of 4%,…

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Enraged Swiss watchmaker writes open letter to Swiss National Bank

Edouard Meylan, CEO of swiss watch company, H. Moser & Cie has written an open letter to the Swiss National Bank after it scrapped a three-year old cap on the franc.  The Swiss National Bank caught markets off-guard on Thursday when it announced that it was abandoning the minimum rate…

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Pierce Brosnan unveiled as brand ambassador of Speake-Marin

Independent watch brand Speake-Marin has announced Irish actor Pierce Brosnan will be the official ambassador for the brand.  Brosnan, known for his iconic role in James Bond, met Peter Speake-Marin, the owner of the eponymous firm, on the set of one of his films, where they became friends. A statement from…

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Citizen Watch UK achieves record breaking 2014

Citizen Watch UK has announced a record year for 2014, with sales up 7.8% in December and 7.7% for the year.  Growth in sales for the brand’s female line was up 15.6% in December, with the company citing “huge marketing investment” in the run up to Christmas as a key…

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Endless Jewelry reveals first glimpse of Jennifer Lopez Collection

Endless Jewelry, the collectible charm bracelet brand, has today revealed a sneak peek of its brand new Jennifer Lopez Collection.  The new collection will feature 42 new charms in silver, yellow gold plating, along with rose gold plating introduced for the very first time. The collection will also feature two…

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December footfall rises but still down on 2013

Retail footfall in December showed the best performance since January 2014, but was still down on the same month in 2013, according to the latest BRC/Springboard Footfall Monitor.  Total retail footfall in the UK was up 2.4% on the fall in November, but down 0.7% year-for-year and below the three-month…

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9ct gold jumps by a million items in full year hallmarking figures

The year 2014 marked an overall upward trajectory of the UK’s hallmarking figures, with the number of items marked rising 13.7% overall, to just under 10.4 million items – 1.2 million more than previous year. The standout performer was 9ct gold, which rose a staggering 25.1% to just over 3.6 million items…

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Carat reports significant growth in sales over Christmas period

Fashion jeweller Carat London has reported strong and sustained sales growth during the Christmas period, for the three months ending December 31.  The company reported a 60% sales increase during the period, while the total number of Carat stockists increased by over 40 stores during the final half of 2014,…

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