The new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
NRF: Consumers to shop right up to Christmas Eve
Around 10 percent of consumers who haven’t yet wrapped up their holiday shopping will wait until Christmas Eve to finish, news that is no surprise to jewelers who are used to being busy until closing time on Dec. 24.
Washington--Around 10 percent of consumers who haven’t yet wrapped up their holiday shopping will wait until Christmas Eve to finish, news that is no surprise to jewelers who are used to being busy until closing time on Dec. 24.
According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) latest holiday survey, in addition to the 10 percent of consumers who say they’ll finish on Christmas Eve, 29 percent of consumers plan to finish shopping by Dec. 18, 14 percent by Dec. 20 and 12 percent by Dec. 21.
This means that 65 percent of consumers still have some shopping to do over the next few days.
So, where will they spend their money?
According to the NRF survey, 50 percent of shoppers said they plan to do the rest of their holiday shopping on the Internet--the highest percent in the survey’s 11-year history. In addition, 9 percent of those celebrating Christmas will shop online that day, up from 5 percent in 2009.
Tablet and smartphone owners will roll out their devices this season, with 47 percent of tablet owners researching products and comparing prices to aid in their purchasing decisions and 36 percent of smartphone owners doing the same.
Almost two in five (19 percent) smartphone owners will actually make a purchase via their device, as well as one-third (33 percent) of tablet owners.
The survey also showed that 45 percent of consumers will finish shopping at department stores and 37 percent will head to discount stores, as well as electronic stores (24 percent), clothing and accessory stores (24 percent), grocery stores (15 percent) and outlet stores (14 percent).
When it comes to what type of gift shoppers have already bought, half say apparel and nearly four in 10 (39 percent) said toys. Jewelry was fifth on the list at 18 percent.
Slightly more than one-third (34 percent) of shoppers bought gift cards, the most requested gift item of the season.
“It comes as no surprise that Americans are eager to shop online in the coming weeks as busy schedules and a shift in the calendar have made the convenience offered by retailers’ mobile apps and websites even more attractive this year,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.
The NRF 2013 holiday consumer spending survey polled 6,324 consumers and was conducted by Proper Insights & Analytics from Dec. 2 to 9.
The Latest

The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.

It is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.

You deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.

The initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.


The wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.

Foundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

A Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.

The retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.

Applications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.

These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Mejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.

The Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.

The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.

Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.

Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.

The new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.

Production has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.

The store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.

Two Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.

West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.

In the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.

Cohen discusses the evolution of Citizen’s light-powered technology, the brand’s cross-generational appeal, and tariffs.

“Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople" reveals the underlying human traits and behaviors of the most successful sales professionals.

The collection features symbols of love, luck, and light, based on the story of Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great of Persia.

It’s the third scholarship to be launched as part of the partnership to help appraisers advance their professional credentials.






















