ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
SurveysDec 18, 2014
Final predictions roll in as season winds down
Lower gas prices, an improved job market and late-spending consumers could give retailers a boost as the 2014 holiday season comes to a close.
New York--This holiday season is in the homestretch, to be sure.
There’s only a week to go until Christmas Day and many retailers are banking on the upcoming weekend being big.
Among the positive indicators are lower gas prices and a better job market, along with the fact that some analysts predict a lot of late spending this year, which is normally the case for jewelers anyway.
“There is still a lot of strength left in the consumer as we head into the final holiday stretch, and reports suggests many consumers have yet to start buying,” ShopperTrak stated in a report released Wednesday.
The firm, which tracks foot traffic via devices it has installed in stores around the U.S., said it expects this December to top last year’s $149.3 billion in sales, boosted by the gas prices, better unemployment numbers and improved consumer confidence.
It notes that this year, the biggest shopping day in sales terms is expected to be Saturday, which is the final Saturday before Christmas, otherwise known as “Super Saturday.”
Also remaining are Monday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 23, which ShopperTrak projected as the No. 4 and No. 10 top days for sales this season, respectively.
Given all of these factors, ShopperTrak is sticking by its initial projection of a 4 percent year-over-year increase in holiday season sales.
In his December U.S. jewelry sales update, industry analyst Ken Gassman noted the same positive economic indicators as ShopperTrak: lower gas prices and a stronger job market.
Yet, Gassman, who bases his reports on a combination of public company reports and government data, states that U.S. watch and jewelry sales were “sluggish” in October and have been “weak” since mid-summer, which does not bode well for November and December.
Preliminary data for November is mixed, with “some merchants reporting solid gains while others have reported a dramatic sales decline.”
These indicators caused Gassman to slash his holiday sales projection for specialty jewelers from 4 percent to a low-single-digit gain, perhaps not even topping the 2.9 percent increased recorded last year.
Interestingly, both reports note that foot traffic for mall retailers has not dropped off as sharply as some might believe.
Gassman said that his firm’s figures indicate that shopper traffic in malls is “good, but not great,” while ShopperTrak said the idea that fewer shoppers are visiting the malls than did just a few
years ago is a myth.
“Data shows that there has not been a significant change in the number of people who visit malls when compared to years past. What has changed is that consumers often begin the shopping experience online,” ShopperTrak said.
Because the Internet allows today’s consumer to be more well-informed, they visit fewer stores, as they already know who has what they want to buy in stock at the price they want to pay.
More on Surveys
The Latest
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup 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.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
