Opening
Openings—whether of new stores, concessions, pop-up spaces, or showrooms—serve as vital signals for growth, retail strategy, and market confidence within the UK jewellery trade. These events reflect investment trends, consumer demand, and brand expansion across high streets, shopping centres, luxury precincts, and online platforms. Jewellery Focus delivers immersive coverage of jewellery-related openings—highlighting launch strategies, merchandising layouts, location selection rationale, promotional activity, footfall outcomes, and post-launch performance. Our trade-centric reporting provides retailers, brand managers, developers, and suppliers with actionable insights into best practices for retail activation, partnership models, inventory planning, and measuring commercial success tied to new entry points in the sector.
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Aug- 2020 -18 AugustTrade Organisations
BAJ opens admissions for three short courses
The British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) has announced the opening of admissions for three short courses at its Birmingham campus. Prospective students can now sign up for BAJ’s Stone Setting for Beginners, Wax Carving: Practice and Casting Theory, and Jewellery Manufacturing for Beginners programmes. Courses can be attended by both…
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17 AugustRetailers
F.Hinds to open Luton store
F.Hinds has announced the opening of its 115th store in Luton, which is set to open its doors on 22 August. According to the family-run jewellers, the new site, located in The Mall shopping centre, is set to create seven new jobs through its opening. The store will feature “sleek,…
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17 AugustE-Commerce
Online sales witness 10% decline in July
Online retail sales witnessed a “sharp decline” of 10% in July, according to the latest figures from IMRG’s online sales index. The data group said the decline followed a shift in consumer spending patterns as the hospitality sector reopened throughout the month. While online sales fell by 10% in the…
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12 AugustCurrent Affairs
UK in recession following 20% GDP slump
The UK economy has entered into a technical recession following a “record” fall in gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter of the year. According to the Office for National Statistics, GDP slumped by 20.4% between April and June 2020, compared with the 2.2% drop seen during Q1 2020…
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10 AugustDesigners
Bath goldsmith upgrades premises
Goldsmith and jewellery designer, Tina Engell, has announced the opening of a new combined workshop and retail space in the centre of Bath. The move to a larger premises will see her join a “number of creative independent businesses who are based in the buzzing artisan quarter”. Following the move,…
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7 AugustTips
Covid-19 and the jewellery business – How store owners should be preparing for re-openings
Although COVID-19 continues to affect the world, its clutches are gradually loosening. Cities from all over the world have ceased on lockdowns, prompting business owners to develop plans and strategies for re-opening. A collaborative effort is necessary, especially since reopenings are happening sooner than anticipated—with cures and vaccines still in…
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7 AugustCoronavirus
Poor July sales rock high street recovery
Poor in-store sales through the month of July have “dampened hopes of a recovery” across UK high streets, according to the latest High Street Sales Tracker from BDO. In-store like-for-like sales decreased by 39.4% last month, down from a marginal base of 0.1% that was reported the year before. According…
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4 AugustEvents
BAJ announces Alighieri competition winners
The British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) has announced the winners of its design competition in collaboration with London-based jewellery brand Alighieri. The competition’s brief challenged students to design pieces inspired by the opening lines of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy. According to Alighieri, the quality of submissions was…
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Jul- 2020 -30 JulyInternational
De Beers jobs at risk following poor sales
De Beers has announced that total revenue plummeted 54% to $1.2bn (£920m) in its half-year results, with rough diamond sales falling to $1bn (£767m), down from the $2.3bn (£1.76bn) reported the year prior. In light of the damaged performance, CEO Bruce Cleaver told Reuters that the group would “likely” proceed…
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24 JulyTips
Jewellery businesses after lockdown -approaching communication
Following the announcement of the re-opening of non-essential shops around London, business owners must adopt a regular, clear, and succinct line of communication with returning staff. Beyond keeping business afloat, shop owners need to ensure that staff is well-informed regarding new protocols and that they can minimise the risk of…
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