Month: April 2020

Laings recognised by Sunday Times Profit Track

Luxury jewellery retailer Laings has been named one of the fastest-growing UK companies for profits growth by The Sunday Times. The jewellers featured in the 21st annual Sunday Times Profit Track as one of Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing profits over the last three years.  It ranked at number…

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IJL extends deadline for KickStart applications

The IJL has announced that its deadline for online applications for the IJL KickStart mentorship competition has now been extended to 1 June in light of the ongoing pandemic.  Andy Ventris, IJL show director, said: “Extending the deadline is to ensure that we are giving all designers who wish to…

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Bira welcomes 100% government-backed loans for small businesses

The British Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed a new government scheme to offer 100% taxpayer-backed loans for the UK’s small businesses. Yesterday (27 April), Rishi Sunak announced the scheme would start next week offering firms loans of up to £50,000 within days of applying. To access the loans, which are…

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UK economy not expected to recover until 2023, study suggests

The UK’s economy is not expected to return to normal until 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report issued by economic forecasting group EY Item Club. The group has warned that it is likely to take three years for the UK economy to return to the…

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Job support to be wound down, M&S dividend suspended, ventilator production slows, property market halts

Chancellor Rishi Sunack says he will wean the economy off his support schemes in a “gradual” wind-down, to help prevent soaring unemployment on ‘expiration day’. His announcement, made to MPs, came in response to concerns that a definite cut-off date would produce an explosion in redundancies and layoffs. Currently, the…

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Chancellor announces 100% guarantee on small business loans

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the launch of a new ‘bounce back’ emergency loan scheme for small businesses, which will offer 100% guarantees on emergency loans. Today (27 April) Sunak told the House of Commons that the scheme would begin next week, offering SMEs loans of up to £50,000. The…

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Olivia & Pearl partners with MediaVision

Olivia & Pearl announced it has appointed MediaVision to execute a new marketing plan with a “mission to bring pearl jewellery to a new generation”. The appointment comes ahead of the contemporary brand’s focus on strengthening its ecommerce platform and online reach.  Its brief is to establish the brand as…

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Simone Jewels to debut in HOL’s second virtual trunk show

Celebrated luxury jewellery brands, Yeprem , Maya, Terzihan and Simone Jewels have been announced to make their debut in the House of Luxury’s (HOL) second virtual trunk show going live on today (27 April). Inside a three-dimensional, HD virtual environment, shoppers will be able to explore fine diamond jewellery by…

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BRC issues new guidance on re-opening stores

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has issued new guidance for shops regarding procedures to maintain when businesses re-open following the lockdown. The BRC, alongside trade union Usdaw, said that whilst it is “not clear” when non-food businesses will re-open for business, retailers “need to be ready”. It warned it is…

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Edinburgh Assay Office to resume services

The Edinburgh Assay Offices announced it will resume its hallmarking service after initially closing its doors on 24 March.  The office will now re-open on 28 April following a “successful” week-long closed door trial with volunteer staff. Over the past two weeks, the assay office has also been working internally…

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