Small Business Saturday boosts local spending

Consumers across the UK helped support Small Business Saturday on December 6, with 16.5 million people shopping in small independent businesses on the day.  This support from shoppers represents a 20% increase in footfall on last year, with 2.7 million more shoppers when compared to the UK’s first Small Business…

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Drakes announces opening of new store

Jewellery retailer Drakes Jewellers has officially announced the opening of its new store in Drakes Circus Shopping Centre, Plymouth.  The shopping centre, which officially opened on December 3, is situated on the top of the shopping centre is split into two distinctive sections – a multi-brand section and a diamond…

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Gemfields reports record-sales at £27m ruby auction

Gemfields has announced the results of its recent  higher quality rough ruby auction, which saw an average realised price of $689 (£440) and total sales of $43.3m 27.6m – the highest value achieved at a Gemfields auction.  The auction, hosted in Singapore from 3 to 8 of December, saw 62,936…

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Panama Diamond Exchange and Fiera di Vicena announce partnership

Fiera di Vicena, the Italian jewellery trade fair organiser, and the Panama Diamond Exchange (PDE), have partnered to organise events to help promote the trade in gemstones and jewellery in Latin America.  The announcement follows the signing of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) on Friday, December 5, which outlined the…

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Britain’s Shop Vacancy Rate remains at 13.3% in November

Britain’s shop vacancy rate has remained at 13.3% in November, according to The Local Data Company.  Analysis of vacancy rates by occupation type shows that Shop vacancy in November is 13.3% (0.0%), Leisure vacancy was 7.8% (0.0%), and All (Retail & Leisure) vacancy rate was 11.8% (0.0%). Matthew Hopkinson, director…

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Catherine Jones of Cambridge launches new US watch brand in UK

Jewellery retailer Catherine Jones of Cambridge has launched the ‘Animal Watch’ by new US watch brand 3thirty3, and is only one of two stores worldwide to stock the watch.  The watch, which features a leather strap, stainless steel case and water resistance, will raise money for the International Anti-Poaching Foundation…

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Benevolent Society Ball raises £30,000 for charity

The 79th British Jewellery & Giftware Federation Benevolent Society Ball has raised some £30,000 for the charity, the Benevolent Society.  The Benevolent Society Ball, which took place on December 4 at The St John’s Hotel, Solihull, attracted over 370 guests from the jewellery trade, The Giftware Association and other member…

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Black Friday helps online sales hit new record

Online sales of non-food products grew by 12% in November compared to a year earlier, according to the BRC-KPMG Online Retail Sales Monitor.  In November online sales represented 21% of total non-food sales in the monitor, against 19.6% in November 2013. This is the highest penetration rate since the monitor…

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UK to become largest luxury goods market in Europe by 2018

Luxury Goods retailing in Europe is forecast to reach $150bn (£96bn) by 2018, with the UK set to overtake France and Italy to become to become the leading luxury shopping market by 2018.  This is according to forecasts from retail research agency Conlumino, which says that jewellery and watches is…

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Domino set to launch new wedding ring collection at Spring Fair

Domino has announced that it will use its stand at Jewellery and Watch Birmingham to launch its new wedding ring collection.  The collection will include a selection of bi-colour bands available in platinum as well as 18ct white, yellow and rose gold, and is entirely British-made. The company has also…

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