Retailers

Theo Fennell names student winners of his Central Saint Martins competition

Renowned fine jewellery designer Theo Fennell has named the five winning students of a competition he set at Central Saint Martins as part of its design competition.  Fennell provided 14 entrants with five types of precious stone: a marquise-shaped golden beryl, a heart-shaped padparadscha sapphire, emerald-cut green tourmaline, a tsavorite…

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H&T pawnbrokers’ 2013 full year profits dip 60%

The UK’s largest pawnbroking group, H&T, has revealed that pre-tax profits slumped a hefty 60 per cent to £6.7m, for the full year to 31 December 2013.  Total sales for the full year were £49.9m, down by 19.9 per cent compared with the previous year’s £62.3m. The figures come as…

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Argento goes for growth with £1m investment in seven new stores

Belfast-based jewellery chain Argento has announced a £1m investment plan that will include seven new shop openings in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. The new premises are part of the company’s strategy to increase its representation in high-footfall locations, and will mean 50 new jobs are created…

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Signet tightens grip on US market with $690m Zale purchase

The US owner of British jewellery chains H Samuel and Ernest Jones has inched closer to market domination with the acquisition of smaller American chain Zale for a reported $690m (£414m). In a statement, Signet said it had stumped up for a $21-per-share cash deal, which represented a 41 per…

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F Hinds ‘ahead of schedule’ with Bracknell store opening

Jewellers F Hinds has announced the ahead-of-schedule opening of its new store in Princess Square, Bracknell. The bright, modern and also environmentally friendly jewellery store has relocated to 1 – 2 Princess Square, Bracknell, Berkshire. Manager Nick Dobinson and all the staff who were at the company’s previous Bracknell store…

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Houlden Group hires ex-QVC head jewellery buyer

Stuart Laing, CEO of The Houlden Group, has announced the appointment of Vanessa Priest as marketing consultant. Having recently initiated a review of its branding, the Houlden Group says it has identified a number of projects to “bring additional benefit to both its members and suppliers”. Priest will be working…

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BJA meeting on Hatton Garden future draws audience of 200

A meeting hosted by the British Jewellers’ Association to propose a Business Improvement District (BID) in Hatton Garden drew an audience of more than 200 people. An unexpectedly large crowd of businesspeople from London’s jewellery quarter gathered in Etc Venues on Hatton Garden to hear the case for introducing a…

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Better-than-expected holiday bolsters Pandora revenue

Pandora has announced that sales have exceeded its original forecast, with full year revenues of 9bn Danish kroner (£1bn) for 2013.The company originally predicted sales of 8.6bn kroner (£959 million), but puts the surprise results down to a better-than-expected holiday period and a string of store openings in the latter…

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Oxford Street store robbed of £500,000 of watches

Armed robbers have stolen more than half a million pounds’ worth of watches from a jewellers in Oxford Street, London. The smash-and-grab job was carried out in full view of a throng of rush hour shoppers, and when police arrived at the scene they were forced to back down when…

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Tiffany & Co. reports 4% increase in worldwide sales

Tiffany & Co. has reported a 4 per cent rise in global sales in the November to December period, which equates to a $1.03 billion (£62.6m) increase in revenues compared with the same period the previous year. The company enjoyed a $131 million (£7.9m) rise in Europe alone, and with…

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