JCK eMonday - December 25, 2006
Dear Reader,
Its Christmas morning in much of the world as you receive this message. For many retailers it's a day of rest and preparation as tomorrow begins the final chapter of the holiday gift-giving season: Returns, exchanges, and sales. In this moment of relaxation everyone at the JCK International Publishing Group would like to wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season.1. JA Protests NGOs Tactics with Recent Conflict Diamond Survey
2. WDC Encourages Retailer Participation in NGO Survey
3. Gitanjali Gems Acquires Samuels Jewelers
4. Vast Majority of Consumers Shopping Later This Year
5. Late-Season Surge Continues for Online Holiday Shoppers
6. Pettinelli Named President of Patek Philippe USA; Edelman to be Board Chair
7. Thieves Use their Feet to Break Into Jewelry Store
8. Two-Day Conference Program at JCK Show ~ Las Vegas
9. Novell Acquires Wright & Lato
10. GIA Staff and Students Donate Toys, Cash, and Food to Local Charities
11. Three New Jewelry Lines
For more news and updates, please go to http://email.jckgroup.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/h2uS0IgBJs0B4Y0Erwd0Ez. 1. JA PROTESTS NGOS TACTICS WITH RECENT CONFLICT DIAMOND SURVEY
Jewelers of America President and CEO Matthew A. Runci sent a letter on Dec. 21 to non- governmental organizations Global Witness and Amnesty International, expressing JA's disappointment about certain aspects of a recent survey the groups sent to retailers in the U.S. and overseas. The survey asks retailers about their adherence to the System of Warranties, which works to support the Kimberley Process in fighting conflict diamonds. To read more click here.
2. WDC ENCOURAGES RETAILER PARTICIPATION IN NGO SURVEY
The World Diamond Council, in its on-going commitment to eliminate conflict diamonds and to show full support for the Kimberley Process, issued a letter to retailers across the U.S. today encouraging them to participate in an Amnesty International and Global Witness survey on the Kimberley Process and retailers’ implementation of the System of Warranties. To read more click here.
3. GITANJALI GEMS ACQUIRES SAMUELS JEWELERS
Gitanjali Gems Ltd. has acquired a majority ownership interest in Samuels Jewelers Inc. from funds managed by DDJ Capital Management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. To read more click here.
4. VAST MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS SHOPPING LATER THIS YEAR
Consumers are once again waiting until the last minute to complete their holiday shopping as 84 percent are shopping later this year than in 2005, according to a recent survey. To read more click here.
5. LATE-SEASON SURGE CONTINUES FOR ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPERS
During the first 48 days of the holiday season, ended Dec. 18, total online retail spending reached $20.65 billion, marking a 25-percent increase versus the corresponding days in 2005, according to Reston-Virg.-based comScore Networks. To read more click here.
6. PETTINELLI NAMED PRESIDENT OF PATEK PHILIPPE USA; EDELMAN TO BE BOARD CHAIR
Larry Pettinelli will take over as president of the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the U.S. division and distributor of Patek Philippe, one of the best-known Swiss luxury watch brands in the U.S. market. He has been with the company for 18 years. Hank Edelman, who has been president since 1991, will become chairman of the board of directors and continue to work in its New York office on a limited weekly schedule. The change is effective Feb. 1. To read more click here.
7. THIEVES USE THEIR FEET TO BREAK INTO JEWELRY STORE
Thieves found their way inside a jewelry store in Wadsworth, Ohio, by kicking through the wall after breaking into a barber shop next door. To read more click here.
8. TWO-DAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM AT JCK SHOW ~ LAS VEGAS
The JCK Show ~ Las Vegas 2007 will include a two-day extensive conference program on May 30 and May 31 at two buildings: the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center. The conference program will offer more than 35 complimentary educational sessions presented by some of the industry’s most revered experts. The conference will cover the topics of Diamonds, AGTA Gems, Business, Technology, Fashion, GIA Updates, Jewelers of America highlights, and industry news. To read more click here.
9. NOVELL ACQUIRES WRIGHT & LATO
Bridal jewelry manufacturer Novell Design Studio has acquired Wright & Lato, a former competitor within the wedding ring industry. To read more click here.
10. GIA STAFF AND STUDENTS DONATE TOYS, CASH, AND FOOD TO LOCAL CHARITIES
The Gemological Institute of America’s annual holiday gift drive, organized by Institute staff and students, collected more than $7,826 this year in cash, toys, and food. As a result, 360 gifts and 72 dinners will be given to families in the San Diego, Calif., area who in need during the holidays. To read more click here.
11. THREE NEW JEWELRY LINES
Aaron Shum Jewelry Ltd., a Hong Kong-based jewelry manufacturer, has released three jewelry lines: La Posy, Coronet Solitaire, and Gemtique. To read more click here.
That's all for today!Yours,
The Editors of JCK eMonday
