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TOP STORIES

NRF: 2007 Holiday Sales Up 3%
Retail industry sales for December (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 1.7 percent unadjusted over last year and decreased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from November, according to the National Retail Federation. In addition, November retail industry sales were revised downward to 4.7 percent growth from the initial 5.1 percent that was reported last month. » » »

Charles & Colvard Lowers 2007 Forecast
Charles & Colvard, Ltd., the sole source of moissanite used in fine jewelry, has lowered its 2007 revenue forecast and hired a consulting firm to assess the Morrisville, N.C.-based company's business model and provide recommendations for improved sales performance. » » »


Blue Nile Fourth Quarter Sales Up 24%
Blue Nile, Inc. said revenue for its fourth quarter, ended Dec. 30, 2007 grew approximately 24 percent, year-over-year. » » »

Birks & Mayors Same-Store Sales Down 7%
Birks & Mayors Inc. said that same-store sales fell by 7 percent for the 2007 holiday season. U.S. same-store sales dropped 10 percent and Canadian stores fell by 5 percent for the period (Nov. 7 – Dec. 4). » » »

Diamond Dealers Killed in Plane Crash
Five Israeli diamond dealers were killed when their light aircraft crashed in a residential suburb of Namibia's capital Windhoek Jan. 11, according to media reports. » » »

From Our Blogs

Who Takes the Return?
My employees are compensated with an hourly wage plus commission—and no one likes to take returns. Unfortunately, we did have a few items returned after Christmas and out of those returns—some sales associates sold up, some couldn’t get a new sale out of the return, and one customer picked out a less expensive item and took store credit for the difference...
Read On »
Window Shopping: Printemps (Block 1), Paris
I was in Paris from December 26 through the 30 (it was my first time in the City of Lights!) and I was in full tourist mode. With digital camera in hand I happened upon Printemps, or as my friend Lori referred to it "the French Macy's."...
Read On »
Window Shopping: Printemps (Block 2), Paris
Start with Window Shopping: Printemps (Block 1), Paris ...
Read On »
Trend Watch: Adorning Abstract Art Apparel
I’m often inspired by the advertising emails I receive from the high-end retail stores. Bergdorf Goodman provides some of my favorite offerings from top fashion designers...
Read On »

MORE INDUSTRY NEWS

JSA Celebrates 125th with Good Crime News
The Jewelers' Security Alliance's 125th anniversary luncheon at the Rainbow Room Saturday began with relatively good news—only one person in the jewelry industry had been killed on duty in 2007. » » »

JA Helps Jewelers with De Beers Settlement
Jewelers of America has created three guidance documents to help retail jewelers address questions referring to the proposed De Beers settlement. » » »

Hope Diamond's Mysterious Red Glow Solved
A study released in the January 2008 edition of the journal Geology proves that a blue diamond’s rare appeal goes far beyond its beauty. » » »

Israel's Top Polished Diamond Exporters
The annual list of the 30 largest exporters of polished diamonds in Israel was published by the Israel Diamond Controller’s Office in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Topping the list once again is L.L.D. Diamonds Ltd., owned by Lev Leviev, with exports of $522 million in 2007. » » »

Tiffany Funds Fair Trade Diamonds Study
TransFair USA, an independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified products, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation to assess the feasibility of Fair Trade certification for diamonds. » » »

Ad Expert Calls for Self-Regulation
The industry needs to self-regulate claims in its advertising, Andrea Levine, director of the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau, told attendees at the Jewelers Vigilance Committee’s annual luncheon. » » »

2007 MJSA Innovation Award Winners
The Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America and MJSA Journal honored four products in the fourth annual MJSA Innovation Awards competition, which recognizes the most creative tools, technologies, and processes introduced during the past year. The winners, which ranged from a desktop scanner that offers high-quality scans in seconds to an ergonomically designed saw that offers precision cuts by hand, were featured in the December 2007 issue of MJSA Journal. » » »
THIS MONTH’S READER POLL
How did the 2007 holiday season compare with 2006?
Sales up more than 10%
Sales up between 5% and 10%
Sales up less than 5%
Sales flat with 2006
Sales down less than 5%
Sales down more than 5%

View results from last month’s poll

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