Retailers

Fraser Hart opens new store in Worcester

Jewellery chain Fraser Hart has announced the opening of a new store in the centre of Worcester.  The store, which opened on Saturday, March 28, has been designed to create a “light, spacious and welcoming shopping atmosphere” in-keeping with the jeweller’s existing interior design theme. The store, which is fitted…

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Signet delivers highest Q4 sales growth in 13 years

Signet’s UK division, which owns H Samuel and Ernest Jones, has experienced its highest Q4 sales increase in 13 years and its best operating profit in three years.  In the 13 weeks to January 31, the company reported a same-store sales increase of 7.5%, with total sales reaching $278m (£186.6m).…

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Firms to ‘overpay £221m in business rates’

More than 110,000 firms in England and Wales are likely to miss 31 March deadline for appeals over business rates, and at least £221 million in potential relief will lie unclaimed. This is according to CBRE, the commercial property and real estate services advisor, which conducted research into the “scramble to…

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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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Beaverbrooks named in Sunday Times ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’

Family-owned Beaverbrooks has been recognised as the best mid-sized retailer to work for in the UK, coming 19th on the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2015.  Celebrating its 12th consecutive year in the top 100, Beaverbrooks ranked 19th in the 250 to 5,000 employee range, seeing off…

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Ernest Jones set to upsize at WestQuay shopping centre

Ernest Jones is set to upsize to a larger store at Southampton’s WestQuay shopping centre.  Due to open in March, the new 3,200 square foot store will be located on WestQuay’s upper level adjacent to brands such as Jack Wills. Sarah Mander, assistant director for retail leasing at Hammerson, a…

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Endless Jewelry reports $30m sales in dazzling first year

The new leather bracelet and charms brand Endless Jewelry has had a storming first year of trading, according to its CEO and founder, Jesper Nielsen. Nielsen told Jewellery Focus the company turned over $30 million in its first full year of trading, and has big plans for expansion in the year ahead.…

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F Hinds celebrates the opening of three stores in just one day

Family jewellers F Hinds has announced that it opened three stores in just one day – located in Stockport, Walsall and Bristol. The stores, which were officially opened on Sunday February 1, involved a 500 mile round trip, three Lord Mayors and 40 feet of red ribbon. The first to…

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Balance of 39% of retailers report sales growth in January

The proportion of retail sectors reporting sales growth in January was a balance of +39%, according to the latest data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI’s Distributive Trades Survey, which polled 127 UK retailers, found that volumes grew faster than expected, partly driven by the strongest rise…

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Jewellery Focus introduces metal prices to Daily Briefing

As of today, Jewellery Focus has begun publishing daily metal prices as part of the Daily Briefing newsletter offering. Subscribers to the Briefing can now read the top stories of the day, the week, the editor’s blog and check out what the price of gold is doing – all before midday. Prices…

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