News
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Dec- 2014 -4 December
Polished diamond suppliers reduce prices in November
Polished diamond prices fell in November as suppliers lowered prices in an effort to improve cash flow, according to Rapaport’s Rapnet Diamond Index (RAPI). The price for 1-carat laboratory-graded diamonds declined by 1.7% in November, while 0.3-carat diamonds fell 2.2% and 0.5-carat diamonds dropped 1.6%. Three-carat diamonds decreased by 1.8%…
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3 December
Business rates set to undergo structural review
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has said in his Autumn Statement that business rates will undergo a full “structural review” alongside the extension of the 2% cap on business rate increases for next year. Further help on business rates announced in the speech included the extension of small business…
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3 December
Osborne to reveal business rates review in Autumn Statement
According to reports from BBC News the Chancellor, George Osborne, is expected to reveal an overhaul of business rates to help high street retailers compete with internet retailers in his autumn statement. The 400 year-old taxation system has long been under criticism from businesses and it has often been blamed…
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3 December
John Lewis banks Black Friday fashion sales
Black Friday helped to deliver the biggest ever week of sales for department store John Lewis with fashion posting its biggest ever sales for a single day’s trade. The store delivered sales of £179.1m, up 21.8% on 2013 and up 56.8% week-on-week to deliver the biggest ever week for sales…
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3 December
Congo arms funding: jewellers urged to join the fight
Non-profit organisation The Enough Project has urged jewellery retailers to “develop transparent policies about their gold sourcing practices” to prevent funds going to armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group has called for jewellers to commit to sourcing from only certified conflict-free gold refiners and to invest…
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2 December
H&T Pawnbrokers opens discount secondhand jewellery shop in Southampton
Discount secondhand jewellery retail store, Est1897, created by parent company H&T Pawnbrokers, has expanded into Marlands Shopping Centre in Southampton. H&T Pawnbrokers redeveloped 36 of its stores across the UK between June and September, changing their focus from traditional pawnbroking to secondhand discount jewellery. The decision to develop the concept…
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2 December
Gemfields partners with Mary Fisher to create ‘100 Good Deeds bracelet’
Gemfields, the coloured gemstone provider, yesterday announced the launch of its 100 Good Deeds Bracelet, scheduled to coincide with World AIDS day. Designed in collaboration with activist and designer Mary Fisher, and promoted in an advertising campaign featuring Mila Kunis, the bracelet is handcrafted by women in Zambia and features…
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1 December
Trollbeads officially opens first UK concept store
Trollbeads, the Danish charm bead jewellery brand, officially opened its first concept store in the UK, in Cambridge on November 20. The official launch was celebrated at a VIP launch evening on November 19, attended by members of staff, invited guests (including Jewellery Focus) and representatives from Trollbeads UK and…
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1 December
One in six online shoppers duped by counterfeit goods
One in 28 consumers willingly search for fake goods online while one in six are tricked by the ‘quality’ of counterfeit websites, according to new research by software company MarkMonitor. The study, which analysed data from more than 285,000 online shoppers in the United States and five European countries over…
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Nov- 2014 -28 November
NPA launches UK wide trading standards scheme
Business Secretary Vince Cable MP has approved a new Primary Authority Coordinated Partnership between the National Pawnbroking Association (NPA) and Surrey County Council. The partnership will give assurance to those across the UK who opt-in to the scheme that the policies and procedures in place in their premises cannot be…
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