Why Signet Is One of the ‘Best-Positioned’ Retailers This Holiday Season
In a recent note, Wells Fargo outlined how the jewelry giant avoided the supply chain woes currently plaguing retail.

On Monday, analysts sat down for a virtual investor meeting with Signet’s management, including CEO Gina Drosos, CFO Joan Hilson, and Vice President of Investor Relations Vinnie Sinisi, to talk about where the jewelry giant stands in the market.
“Signet is one of the few companies in our universe where supply chain disruptions are not having a material impact on the company’s business,” Wells Fargo said in an analyst note shared with National Jeweler.
The company has no exposure to Vietnam, a country hard-hit with supply chain struggles. Its raw material mining happens in India, Russia, Botswana, and Brazil, while its cutting and polishing takes place in India, China, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand, Israel, and Belgium.
Signet has a partially vertically integrated supply chain, giving the company more control over delivery times, the note states.
The retailer relies less on cargo ships for product transportation, which means it avoids port delays into the United States from Asia. Most of its products are sent via airfreight.
Signet also placed orders with its vendors early, with more than half of its holiday inventory already on hand.
“Signet is likely one of the best-positioned retailers heading into holiday regarding supply chain headwinds,” said the note.
The analyst note delves into other aspects of Signet’s business, including its service offerings.
There may be big money to be made in its services business, which includes repairs, jewelry care, extended service plans, warranty and insurance, and its customizations services, like through the new Jared Foundry.
The segment could reach $1 billion in revenue over the next few years, a marked difference from the $300 million it generated in the last fiscal year.
Wells Fargo estimates the U.S. jewelry service and repair business to be in the $3 billion range total, though it is “highly fragmented.”
As Signet is the market share leader, the company has the opportunity to gain greater market share by leveraging its size, making the most of its 1,400 “jewelry experts.”
Services also foster customer loyalty, said analysts, keeping shoppers in the Signet ecosystem.
The jewelry giant has also been prioritizing differentiating its banners, tailoring each to cater to a specific set of customers rather than cannibalizing each other.
The change has brought new customers to each banner, said the note, and has also been a winning strategy for retaining customers.
While the note focuses on Signet, it also highlights the strength of the jewelry category overall.
“Jewelry has been a clear COVID category winner,” said the note, highlighting its strong double-digit growth over the last six to eight months.
While the strength of the overall category may have helped to lift Signet, the management team told analysts it intends to continue its growth trajectory, even as spending may shift to experiential purchases.
The company is using its data to better understand its consumers, which is evidently working as store productivity increases and new customers flock to its banners, as per the note.
Signet will also use its e-commerce capabilities to scoop up more market share.
The mid-market jewelry category is worth around $35 billion, with nearly 70 percent of the market share held by less tech-savvy independents, analysts noted.
“As consumers continue to become more comfortable buying jewelry online, Signet is positioned to capitalize on this trend and take share from independents who lack e-commerce capabilities,” said the note.
“The company has numerous competitive advantages that cannot be replicated by its smaller, independent and regional competitors, including robust digital and omnichannel capabilities.”
However, competition from department stores entering the market and digital-only companies could be an impediment to Signet achieving its goal of a 9 percent market share, up from its current 6 percent.
Wells Fargo maintained its “Overweight” rating on the company with a price target of $100.
The Latest

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.


These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.

Fourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.

The new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.

The addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.

The NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.

Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.

The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.

Former Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.

The $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.

























