Surveys

Retailers share the words that sum up the season

SurveysDec 29, 2014

Retailers share the words that sum up the season

National Jeweler asked retailers to use just one word to describe their holiday season sales. Responses ranged from mediocre to cheerful to unusual. 

NJ-holiday-logo-article.jpg

New York--Who needs 140 characters? 

National Jeweler asked jewelers to describe how the holiday season played out at their stores in a single word. Responses ran the gamut, from average to exciting to unusual. 

Read on to see how your store’s performance stacked up against that of your peers. 

Mediocre
Other words that jewelers used to describe this sentiment included “OK” and “average,” but it all meant the same thing: the holiday season was good, but not great. 

Debbie Fox of Fox Fine Jewelry in Ventura, Calif. chose this word for a number of reasons--because the early part of the season, between Thanksgiving and Dec. 20, was significantly slower than normal, and the average dollar sale dipped slightly. Additionally, they sold very few higher-end pieces, instead selling mostly $200 to $600 pieces and Pandora. 

“In the end we were up, but that was due to more transactions in the last five days,” Fox said. “I’ve heard, from other jewelers in (the Independent Jewelers Organization), similar stories. My guess is because more people are shopping on the Internet, but I am wondering about data on this.”

Bobby Wallo, of JRobert’s Fine Jewelry in Jacksonville, Fla. also described the holiday season as average. He said online retailers detract from brick-and-mortar business while wearable technology, devices like FitBits, are luring a younger generation away from jewelry.

Also hurting is the shrinking middle class. “I don’t think we have a middle class anymore,” he said, noting that shoppers who used to spend $3,000 are now “going to be a $1,000 shopper at best.” 

Wallo said jewelers’ best bet today is to be honest and take good care of their customers.

“You better be on the money with what you are saying and doing and have excellent customer service.” 

Rare
Sean Dunn of J.R. Dunn Jewelers in Lighthouse Point, Fla., said that these days, the store’s clients are seeking rare pieces that provide long-term value. 

This holiday season, the retailer did very well with nice sapphires, rare tourmalines and special opals. 

They will be merchandising from this perspective at Baselworld and Tucson in 2015, and also will be creating more one-of-a-kind pieces produced by the store’s designer, Robert Pelliccia.

Cheerful
Kelly Newton of Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., said it was both the happiest and the busiest holiday season that the store has seen in a while. 

Consumers not only

seemed more comfortable buying, but also were buying on a “much larger scale,” and sales and especially foot traffic were up greatly over last year. “If I had gone into the season with any expectations, this year would’ve crushed them.”

Cheerful also would describe the atmosphere at Longnecker Jewelry in McCook, Neb. and Ralph Miller Jewelers & Gallery in Erie, Pa., said Daniel Niebauer, the store’s vice president of operations. 

Ralph Miller Jewelers topped last year’s record holiday sales, aided by the early fall release of the iPhone 6--meaning the smartphone wasn’t necessarily detracting from consumers’ holiday budgets--and lower gas prices. 

“It’s (the lower gas price) giving a lot of energy to the economy and I think people were a little more carefree (with their spending),” he said.  

In Nebraska, Bill Longnecker said while they had some slow days, the “numbers came in,” enough to push the store’s total up over last year, which, incidentally, was the best year they’ve ever had. 

“We are doing an excellent job of taking care of our customers, and it’s paying off,” he said, noting the store offers, among other services, free sizing and adjustments like tightening stones for the lifetime of any ring they sell. 

Also helping the store is the fact that it’s located in an affluent rural community, where residents would have to drive an hour to a major city to find the same services Longnecker offers at his store.

Unusual
A trend noted by many retailers who spoke with National Jeweler this holiday season was the seemingly unpredictable foot traffic patterns. Many jewelers reported being surprised by the volume of sales early in the season, only to have it drop off and the store be less busy on days that it’s traditionally a madhouse. 

Jake Spigelman, of Jay Roberts Jewelers in Marlton, N.J., in the eastern Philadelphia suburbs, said,  

“Traffic … came at odd times.”

He wasn’t mobbed like he normally is in the last 10 days before Christmas and yet the store ended up hitting its numbers for the holiday season. 

“It was very erratic in the way it came but the numbers in the end were fine,” Spigelman said. 

Challenging-but-successful
Susan Eisen, who runs her eponymous jewelry store and gallery in El Paso, Texas, said she couldn’t narrow it down to one word because of all that the season brought. 

She noted that while this season was just “good” for the store and not extremely strong, she likes having such years because it forces jewelers to take a look at the way they are doing business.

“It’s good to have these situations sometimes, because it forces you to change and re-evaluate what it is you’re going to do for the year ahead. You’re afforded a chance for evaluation,” Eisen said. 

Pleased
While Jim Alperin, owner of James Alperin Jewelers in Pepper Pike, Ohio, would describe the holidays as just “OK,” that’s better than he expected. That’s why he picked the word pleased for his single term describing the season.

A rising stock market helped to lift the spirits of the store’s wealthiest customers and while the store made fewer sales, they were larger. 

Alperin said he sold a 5-carat-plus sapphire ring for $22,000, a ruby ring for $6,000 and an $8,000 pair of diamond stud earrings. 

Measured
For Weber Jewelers in Kettering, Ohio, the 2014 season has been a marked difference in spending and investment, according to Stephanie Weber

Last year, the store held a large retirement event for Weber’s father and also spent a lot more on advertising and marketing.

But this year, Weber said that they ran the business in a different manner--they spent less and were also more careful about the pieces that they were buying and the product mix that they were putting together in the store. 

As a result, gross profit went up and margins were stronger for Weber Jewelers in 2014. 

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

The Latest

Black and white photo of Tony Bennett near a microphone
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony Bennett

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

Sapphire page in Chatham’s “Ultimate Lab-Grown Catalog”
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown Gemstones

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

Rembrandt Blue Jay, Hummingbird, Cardinal Bird Charms
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird Charms

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

rio-article photo-diamond.jpg
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine Jewelry

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Shipping containers on a ship
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Claire’s storefront
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again

The jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.

Smith & Son Jewelers storefront Springfield Massachusetts
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Zahn-Z Beluga Spout Grey Spinel Ring and Beluga Spout Mandarin Garnet Ring
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ Collection

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

Paola De Luca presenting Trendbook 2026+ at Vicenzaoro
TrendsAug 06, 2025
Paola De Luca to Release Trendbook 2027+

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy mugshot
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami Jeweler

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

Mignon Faget Beyond Katrina Pendant and Beyond Katrina Pin
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.

National Jeweler columnist Lilian Raji
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of Coverage

Lilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.

Jewelers of America Logo
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2025
JA Announces Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship Winners

The organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.

2026 Gem Awards logo
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging Designers

The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.

Marlo Laz peridot and diamond Alexandra earrings
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright Baubles

As summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.

Surveillance image of Watch King robbery suspect
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in Queens

Moshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.

Xavier Dibbrell
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities Manager

Xavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.

Signet Jewelers logo
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet Jewelers

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

Mike Alexander
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

 Gemfields rough rubies
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.

Hernsdorf Tears of Aphrodite Necklace
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ Necklace

The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.

Stock image of a polished diamonds being held by tweezers
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss

The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.

Lindsey Scoggins Studio convertible flower earrings
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award Winners

Jewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.

Matthew Tratner, new president of Continental Buying Group
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President

Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.

Stock image of rough diamonds from the Kimberley mine
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says

The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.

Pomellato Mini London blue topaz and diamond bracelet
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%

The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy