A roundup of JCK‘s top stories from the past week:
Where Do Olympic Gold Medals Come From?
Are the golden prizes awarded to athletes actually made exclusively of gold? And what are the silver and bronze medals given to all the second- and third-place finishers really made out of?
J.C. Penney Plans to Eliminate Cash Registers by 2013
J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson has announced another chapter in his “transformation” of the venerable department store: no more cash registers by 2013.
Retailers Can Now Charge Extra for Credit Card Purchases
Retailers in most states will now be able to add checkout fees to customers’ credit card purchases, due to a settlement of a class action suit between credit card companies and 7 million retailers.
Internet Sales Tax Law May Pass Soon
Passage of a law that would require e-tailers to collect sales tax appears increasingly likely, according to Jewelers of America’s legislative counsel.
Cutting Remarks: Independent Jewelers Have Reportedly Been Dying for 100 Years
As part of a story I’m writing on male engagement rings, I interviewed Vicki Howard, a historian at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., and author of Brides Inc.: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition.
Closing Texas Jeweler Hosts Cash Mob
On July 14, Kennedy’s Jewelers—a store located in Nacogdoches Texas, for the past 67 years—welcomed customers to a two-hour cash mob event featuring door prizes and sales.
Cutting Remarks: What Will an Online Sales Tax Mean for Jewelers?
Most smart dot-coms have likely already realized that someday they will be required to collect sales taxes. But based on what Jewelers of America’s legislative counsel said this week, that day may be coming quicker than most expect.
Jewelry and Accessories Top Pinterest Purchases
“Jewelry, handbags, and accessories” is the second leading product category purchased through social media site Pinterest, according to a survey from Bizrate Insights.
5 People Who Have Worn Diamonds in Their Mouths
We bring you five very flashy, very rich, and very dentally challenged individuals who had gems implanted in their mouths—and in two cases, had their teeth actually replaced by diamonds.
De Beers’ Profits Fall 50 Percent
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineDe Beers’ profits fell by about 50 percent in the first quarter of 2012, a result of what it called challenging conditions in the cutting centers.
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