JCK eMonday - December 04, 2006
Dear Reader,
The public gets to see a sneak preview of the 'Blood Diamond' movie. The tectonic plates of the gemological world have shifted with a new AGL hire. Online retailers set a new sales record. A luxury watch brand again takes its case to a U.S. court and wins. Tiffany posts strong sales. Chains store sales reports modest growth for November. Hearts On Fire sparkles at Victoria's Secret event. The top majors will attend the JCK Invitational and jewelry designers are asked to submit applications for entry into the JCK Show ~ Las Vegas 2007. The health of the U.S. economy is under scrutiny with a recent survey. And a watch brand awards Indy drivers.1. First public showing of the 'Blood Diamond' movie
2. Internationally Renowned Gem Expert Chris Smith Joins AGL
3. Cyber Monday Sets Single-Day Online Sales Record
4. Franck Muller Wins More Anti-Grey Market Court Rulings
5. Tiffany's Third Quarter Sales Up 10%
6. Mixed Results for November Sales at Chain Stores
7. Hearts On Fire $6.5 Million Diamond Bra Lights Up Victoria's Secret Runway Show
8. JC Penney, Finlay, and Saks among those attending JCK Invitational
9. Applications Being Accepted to be in the JCK Show Design Center
10. CMI Indicates a Weakening Economy
11. Tissot Awards Top 10 Nascar drivers at “Victory Lap”
For more news and updates, please go to http://email.jckgroup.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/h2HR0IgBJs0B4Y0Erwd0EF. 1. FIRST PUBLIC SHOWING OF THE 'BLOOD DIAMOND' MOVIE
A sneak preview of the film, "Blood Diamond," was shown in select movie theaters Saturday night. I attended one of the screenings in Philadelphia. "Blood Diamond," as a movie, should gain a great deal of attention based on its storytelling, strong performances, and its brutal depiction of civil war in Sierra Leone. However, it's unclear whether the film will deter people from buying diamond jewelry or even make them more conscientious shoppers. The movie opens nationwide on Friday. To read more click here.
2. INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GEM EXPERT CHRIS SMITH JOINS AGL
American Gemological Laboratories, a subsidiary of Collectors Universe, announced Friday that internationally renowned gem expert Chris Smith has joined the company as vice president and chief gemologist, effective immediately. Smith will be working closely with AGL’s president C.R. Cap Beesley. To read more click here.
3. CYBER MONDAY SETS SINGLE-DAY ONLINE SALES RECORD
Online retail spending at U.S. Web sites (non-travel) for Cyber Monday totaled $608 million, up 26 percent versus the same day last year, making it the highest single day in retail e-commerce history and the first day ever to break the $600 million threshold, according to comScore Networks. To read more click here.
4. FRANCK MULLER WINS MORE ANTI-GREY MARKET COURT RULINGS
Franck Muller USA, exclusive importer and distributor of the Swiss luxury watch in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, has won more federal court rulings permanently barring companies from “importing, selling or otherwise distributing” watches with the Franck Muller trademark. To read more click here.
5. TIFFANY'S THIRD QUARTER SALES UP 10%
Tiffany reports Wednesday that net sales increased 10 percent to $547.8 million due to growth in the U.S. and most international markets. Net earnings for the period rose 23 percent to $29.1 million for the luxury jewelry retailer. To read more click here.
6. MIXED RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER SALES AT CHAIN STORES
The 2006 holiday shopping season got underway in November with some mixed results as chain store sales rose by 2.1 percent for the month, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. To read more click here.
7. HEARTS ON FIRE $6.5 MILLION DIAMOND BRA LIGHTS UP VICTORIA'S SECRET RUNWAY SHOW
The Hearts On Fire Company was front and center at the Victoria's Secret runway fashion show held Monday. The Boston-based company dressed the show-stopping $6.5 Million Hearts On Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra. Czech supermodel, Karolina Kurkova modeled the 800-ct diamond bra, along with panties embellished with a $350,000 Hearts On Fire diamond belt. To read more click here.
8. JC PENNEY, FINLAY, AND SAKS AMONG THOSE ATTENDING JCK INVITATIONAL
The Jewelry industry's top retailers will be attending the JCK Invitational, an amenity-rich event catering majors and independent retailers, taking place at the Hilton Hotel in New York City, Feb. 4-6, 2007. Retailers who have registered include: Aucoin Hart Jewelers, Bealls Department Stores, Borsheim's, Costco, Finlay Fine Jewelry Corp., JC Penney, Jewels by Viggi, Kings Jewelry, Kmart, Maurice Badler, Mitchells, Pageo, Reeds, Richards, Ross Stores, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sterling Jewelers. To read more click here.
9. APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED TO BE IN THE JCK SHOW DESIGN CENTER
Each year, about 100 jewelry designers participate in the Design Center at the JCK Show ~ Las Vegas. Applications are being accepted and designers and artisans are encouraged to apply by Dec. 15 for the opportunity to be a part of the 2007 event. To read more click here.
10. CMI INDICATES A WEAKENING ECONOMY
The seasonally adjusted Credit Manager's Index fell for the fourth consecutive month in November. To read more click here.
11. TISSOT AWARDS TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVERS AT “VICTORY LAP”
Swiss watch brand Tissot spotlighted its role as official timekeeper and watch for NASCAR on Nov. 29 by awarding the top 10 Nascar Nextel Cup Series drivers each with a new T-Touch NASCAR Special Edition watch. Jimmie Johnson, the Nextel Cup Series champion, also received a limited edition Tissot Heritage 150th Anniversary watch. To read more click here.
That's all for today!
The Editors of JCK eMonday
