FinancialsApr 13, 2023
LVMH Talks Tiffany Flagship Reopening, Makes Another AcquisitionFinancialsMay 04, 2023
In Q1, Pandora Notes ‘Heightened Consumer Hesitancy’ in US
Pandora’s like-for-like sales were flat globally while they fell 7 percent in the United States.
A stack of lab-grown diamond rings from “Diamonds by Pandora,” the company’s lab-grown diamond line that launched in the United States last summer. Diamonds by Pandora sales totaled $5 million in the first quarter, the company reported Tuesday.
Copenhagen, Denmark—First-quarter sales essentially were flat for Pandora, as the company famous for its affordable, collectible beads continues to grapple with declines in consumer spending amid inflation and rising interest rates.
Pandora reported Tuesday that first quarter 2023 sales totaled 5.85 billion Danish kroner ($868.2 million) up about 3 percent from DKK 5.69 billion ($844.4 million) in the first quarter 2022.
However, like-for-like sales were flat, and organic growth was only 1 percent, which Pandora described as “resilient growth despite macroeconomic challenges.”
EBIT margin in the first quarter was 21.5 percent, down from 23 percent in the prior-year period, mainly attributable to the money the company is sinking into its turnaround plan, dubbed “Phoenix,” and employee raises.
The company noted that the price increases it implemented six months ago have had a positive impact on EBIT margin without negatively impacting sales, and it will consider raising prices again in the future while still keeping its jewelry affordable.
“We have started 2023 well with resilient growth and solid margins,” Pandora President and CEO Alexander Lacik said.
“Our investments in lifting the brand are paying off with good performance in our ‘Moments’ base business and strong results from newer platforms, ‘Timeless’ and ‘Pandora ME’ … The macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain, but we are confident in our ability to adapt and thrive, as we’ve proven over the past few quarters.”
In the United States, first-quarter revenue totaled DKK 1.72 billion ($254.8 million), up 4 percent from DKK 1.65 billion ($245 million) in the first quarter 2022.
On a like-for-like basis, Pandora’s quarterly sales in the U.S. slipped 7 percent—the same as in Q4—and organic sales were down 4 percent.
Pandora said sales at company-owned and -operated stores improved between the fourth quarter 2022 and first quarter 2023 while the performance of franchise stores declined.
Conversion rates also were slightly lower due to signs of “heightened consumer hesitancy.”
The U.S. is Pandora’s largest market, accounting for 29 percent of revenue worldwide, twice as much as the company’s second biggest market, the United Kingdom (14 percent).
In reporting its first-quarter results, the company also gave an update on “Diamonds by Pandora,” its lab-grown diamond jewelry line piloted in the U.K. and launched in the U.S. in August 2022.
Revenue from sales of Diamonds by Pandora totaled DKK 34 million ($5 million) in the first quarter, up from DKK 9 million ($1.3 million) in the first quarter 2022, before it had expanded to the U.S.
The company said the line is “tracking as planned” while noting its potential, which it aims to realize by expanding the assortment and investing in marketing while also rolling out to more markets later this year.
Diamonds by Pandora currently accounts for 1 percent of Pandora’s total revenue.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2023, Pandora is raising its guidance despite political and economic uncertainty, citing its resilient Q1 performance while also noting, “the economic outlook for the remainder of 2023 remains uncertain. High inflation and rising interest rates suggest that consumer spending will continue to be under pressure.”
Pandora updated its guidance to organic growth of -2 percent to 3 percent, a slight improvement from the previous range (-3 percent to 3 percent).
It is forecasting like-for-like sales growth will be flat at best and down 4 percent at worst, a range that depends on how macroeconomic conditions progress throughout 2023.
As of the first quarter, Pandora operated a total of 6,483 points of sale worldwide, a mix of concept stores (Pandora-owned, franchisee-owned, and third-party distribution) as well as other points of sale, which includes shop-in-shops like the ones it has in Macy’s stores in the U.S.
That is 44 fewer points of sale than the company had at the close of 2022 (6,527).
Pandora expects to open a net of 50-100 concept stores this year and 50-100 company-owned and -operated other points of sale.
More on Financials
The Latest
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
AuctionsNov 21, 2024
Gold Watch Gifted to Titanic Rescue Ship Captain Sells for $2MThree Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
AuctionsNov 19, 2024
‘A Tsar’s Treasure’ Fetches $2.9M at Sotheby’s Jewelry SaleA collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
MajorsNov 14, 2024
Saks Fifth Avenue Cancels Holiday Light DisplayInstead of its usual elaborate display, the store will illuminate its façade and frame the windows to highlight its flagship’s architecture.
