Now called The Instore Jewelry Show, it will include holiday-focused education, interactive workshops, and a window display contest.
3 observations about Black Friday weekend
While Black Friday weekend sales figures don’t tell the whole story of the holiday season, they do lend some insight into consumer behavior.
New York-- While Black Friday weekend sales figures don’t tell the whole story of the holiday season, the data culled from a three-day span of shopping does lend some insight into when, where and how consumers are spending their money.
In a story published last Wednesday on FiveThirtyEight.com, analyst Ben Silver’s website, economics writer Ben Casselman argued that the data that emerges about sales over Black Friday weekend is unreliable and that the weekend itself is no real indication of how much consumers are going to spend for the duration of the holiday season.
He also pointed out in his piece that shopping patterns have changed significantly in recent years, making consumer behavior harder to understand and, thereby, predict.
None of this should come as news to jewelers, who are well aware of the changing nature of retail and for whom Black Friday never has been the big make-it-or-break-it weekend anyway.
Jewelers have long told National Jeweler that the weekend after Thanksgiving is a time for consumers to hit up the big-box stores although some, including Northeastern Fine Jewelers and Lily & David Fine Jewelry in Saratoga, N.Y., have begun offering Black Friday deals in the past few years.
There are, however, several takeaways for retailers from the weekend as the U.S. heads into the heart of the holiday shopping season.
1. Online sales are continuing to grow. Online analytics firm comScore reported that e-commerce retail sales on Thanksgiving Day were up 9 percent year-over-year, and Black Friday sales rose 10 percent.
So far this holiday season (Nov. 1 to 27), online retail sales are up 5 percent year-over-year to $23.45 billion, comScore reported.
E-commerce is continuing to change the retail landscape, particularly as it gets easier to shop online. The National Retail Federation reported that 57 percent of both smartphone and tablet owners used their devices to shop over the weekend.
In the post-Black Friday news release, Pam Goodfellow, the principal analyst for Prosper, the company that conducts the NRF’s surveys, observed that “The ease of online shopping through mobile devices now lets millions of people research what they want as well as make timely purchases any day of the weekend.”
2. Consumers are spreading out their spending. The general consensus from the holiday weekend seems to be that online sales outperformed in-store sales, though even online sales reportedly fell short of expectations too.
ComScore
So does that mean consumers aren’t in the mood to shop at all this holiday season? The answer is it’s too early to tell.
As observed above, this past weekend is not necessarily an indicator of how the holiday season is going to go. Today’s budget-conscious consumers tend to spend money both early and late in order to spread out the season’s impact on their wallets.
3. Retailers of all types are embracing “Cyber Monday.” Cyber Monday is the name given to the Monday following Black Friday weekend, which tends to be a big day for online deals and sales. ComScore predicts that U.S. consumers will spend more than $2.5 billion from their desktop computers alone today.
People will “return to their work computers after Thanksgiving weekend and use some of their down time to continue their holiday gift buying, but without other family members looking over their shoulders,” Fulgoni said.
The Latest

It includes pricing for unenhanced Colombian emeralds in the fine to extra fine range.

The “Sea of Wonder” collection features pieces inspired by the ocean, from its waves to flora and creatures like urchins and sea turtles.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The 23-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, set to headline Christie’s May jewelry auction, was expected to sell for as much as $50 million.


G.B. Heron Jewelers in Salisbury, Maryland, is set to close as its owner, Jeff Cassels, retires.

Emmanuel Raheb outlines the differences between the two platforms and posits that the most successful jewelers use both.

Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.

The miner said its April sale featured a mix of commercial-quality primary rubies and secondary rubies of varying quality.

U.S. customs agents in El Paso, Texas, intercepted the package, which would have been worth $9 million if the jewelry was genuine.

Health monitors become statement pieces when paired with the brand’s new collection of stackable diamond-studded bands.

Ten organizations were selected this year.

Kim Carpenter and Sam Gevisenheit have joined the brand.

“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.

Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.

Designer Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers.

The company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs.

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.