IndependentsOct 23, 2023
Retailer Hall of Fame 2023: Stan and Ingrid RaznyIndependentsOct 31, 2023
Retailer Hall of Fame: The Issues Keeping Jewelers Up at Night
From customers being robbed to post-pandemic trends, National Jeweler polled jewelers to find out what’s worrying them most.
Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the print edition of the 2023 Retailer Hall of Fame. Click here to see the full issue.
For the “Final Thoughts” feature in the 2023 Retailer Hall of Fame issue, National Jeweler polled past inductees to find out what about the jewelry business currently has them wide awake at 3 a.m.
Here’s what they had to say.
For the “Final Thoughts” feature in the 2023 Retailer Hall of Fame issue, National Jeweler polled past inductees to find out what about the jewelry business currently has them wide awake at 3 a.m.
Here’s what they had to say.
“The alarming increase in attacks on shoppers in the mall, indoor or out, and being followed while driving home, then attacked. It’s happening more and more [and it’s] very concerning that clients will stop buying due to fear.”
— Lawrence Bock, Bachendorf’s Jewelers
“There’s been a trend of higher-price-point sales, which of course sounds like a great problem to have; the concern is that it’s been coupled with lower unit sales and fewer transactions overall. Thinking about how this will play out in the future should higher-ticket sales start to slip is on my mind quite a bit.”
— Christina Gandia Gambale, Greenwich St. Jewelers
“The access to view things online, yes, it’s wonderful, it’s great for learning and inspiration and for people who don’t have great places to see things. But it does take away the, ‘Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like that before ever,’ [reaction] in person when you go to see it.”
— Lauren Kulchinsky Levison, Mayfair Rocks
“Highly sought, premium product remains [hard to get] and the scarcity of experienced goldsmiths is being felt across the industry. We are not losing sleep over it … [but] we may toss and turn a little trying to figure out how to be first in line when new items become available.”
— Larry Pelzel, Neiman Marcus
“The most important challenge for our business is the utilization of technology to personalize and enhance our customer’s experience without being intrusive or annoying.”
— Jeff Corey, Day’s Jewelers
“As technology is evolving so quickly with new platforms every few months, we continue to think about how to ensure our current in-store culture translates to these new ways of communicating. Reinhold Jewelers is rooted in relationships, creating an intimacy between ourselves, our clients, and our designers and we want to ensure this core piece of our identity is not lost in the digital world.”
— Marie Helene Reinhold, Reinhold Jewelers
“During the past several years, COVID has caused some of the most dramatic lifestyle changes I’ve ever witnessed. Initially, we spent little on travel, big parties and the accessories needed for them. People had lots of unspent income, which led to a boom in sales. We are now [experiencing] a slowdown in sales, with the exception of luxury watches. This has left me to constantly ponder the issues of the level of inventory needed as well as matching it to how people are living their lives. The question remains as to what the lifestyles of the consumers will look like in the near future and how to remain relevant to them.”
— Jim Rosenheim, Tiny Jewel Box
More on Independents
The Latest
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.
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.
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.
Weekly QuizNov 14, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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.
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.
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.
WatchesNov 14, 2024
Grand Seiko Partners With Ben Bridge on First Hawaii Store The new Grand Seiko boutique is located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood.
SourcingNov 13, 2024
Gem Legacy Adventures Announces 2025 Trip Eleven spots are available for travelers to visit Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya from July 25 to Aug. 4.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
Aga Khan Emerald Sells for $8.8M, Sets RecordThe emerald brooch-turned-pendant returned to auction after 55 years, setting a world record for most expensive emerald sold at auction.
AuctionsNov 13, 2024
‘Exceptional’ Burmese Ruby Ring Tops $5M at Auction Phillips also sold a 1.21-carat fancy red diamond dubbed the “Red Miracle” for more than $1 million at its jewelry auction in Geneva.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy Star in Holiday Jewelry CampaignsFrom Swarovski to Tiffany & Co., jewelry retailers are enlisting celebrities to highlight their holiday offerings.
MajorsNov 13, 2024
Royal Chain’s New Catalog Is Out NowThe 2024-2025 book introduces hundreds of new designs.
