She was remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith, who also had a sweet tooth.
Live From Las Vegas: Industry’s Level of Optimism ‘Striking’
JCK Events shared highlights from its new State of the Industry Jewelry Report, which found that many in the industry are feeling positive right now.

Las Vegas--If one recent survey is any indication, the industry is feeling pretty optimistic right now.
JCK Events conducted a survey in conjunction with GfK this spring and created a report based on the findings, the 2018 JCK State of the Industry Jewelry Report.
On Friday morning in Las Vegas, Reed Jewelry Group Senior Vice President Yancy Weinrich shared select highlights from the report at a breakfast held before the jewelry trade shows opened for the day.
Performed in February and March, the survey included feedback from 549 respondents. Most of them were retailers, but survey-takers also included manufacturers and wholesalers as well as some jewelry designers.
Weinrich added that 79 percent of the respondents have been in the industry for more than 11 years, meaning they’ve weathered changes before and bring a long-term perspective to the results.
When looking at the results, she said they discovered a “level of optimism about individual business prospects and the overall direction of the general economy that was striking.”
Though the male respondents were slightly more optimistic than the females, the overall sentiment was positive by a margin of two to one.
In fact, Weinrich said the confidence in the industry and future outlook for the general economy far outstrips that of the general public. Forty-six percent of those who took the jewelry survey said the economy was doing better in the last 12 months, which was nearly twice as many as who said the same in the population at large.
Those expecting continued improvement in the next year are slightly fewer than that, but still outnumber the American public by almost 50 percent.
She said the industry is “overwhelmingly positive” about the likely effects of the recent tax overhaul, with only 13 percent concerned it might hurt the economy.
In questions of trade policy, however, there was more caution and concern; more respondents were worried the changes in the policy toward the Asia-Pacific region, in particular, might hurt the economy.
Nevertheless, the industry sentiment, according to the survey, seems to be positive, especially when it comes to respondents’ own businesses.
Coinciding with the release of the survey, JCK Events introduced a number designed to reflect the state of the industry: the 2018 JCK Jewelry Industry Confidence Index, which will be based on the percentage of jewelers who express optimism regarding their stores.
For the first measure of the index, when
“This is a number that we’re eager to watch over the years, testing its resilience and learning about the attitudes of our professionals in the jewelry industry over time,” Weinrich said.
When it comes to the industry’s biggest challenges, the most commonly mentioned were: online competition, overall economic climate, a lack of general consumer demand and a lack of millennial demand.
According to the survey, the top strategy for dealing with these challenges is improving the in-store buying experience, which “shows that retailers particularly believe that buying jewelry is not something that can only migrate to the virtual world,” she said.
Even with the larger number of brick-and-mortar stores closing, many in the industry aren’t behind going all-in on e-commerce, as buying jewelry goes beyond product to also include seeing and feeling pieces in person, becoming educated and being guided by a trusted professional.
The industry also is turning toward non-traditional advertising and social media as ways to drive the consumers into the store.
Eighty-one percent of survey-takers ranked social media marketing as one of their most successful business practices, while 90 percent indicated they plan to increase their efforts in this area, with Facebook and Instagram dominating.
“Social media is obviously seen as a cost-effective front for taking on online competition,” Weinrich said.
The survey also delved into lab-grown diamonds.
Though only one in five respondents reporting selling the stones, those that are in the business reported that sales were good; 62 percent said sales were up in the last year, and 78 percent expect them to increase again in the coming year.
Also among the top trends for survey-takers was the sale of “responsibly sourced jewelry,” with 73 percent reporting that they sell it, and 49 percent reporting sales were up year-over-year in 2017.
“While this may bolster the growth of blockchain in the industry in the immediate future, it also provides a foothold for lab-grown diamonds to leverage going forward,” Weinrich said.
Meanwhile, sales of watches and charms were “visibly down” from 2016 to 2017, with the former being affected by the disruption of smartwatches and wearable tech, while sales of custom pieces were up 59 percent among respondents as the customization trend across all consumer categories picks up.
The full version of the 2018 JCK State of the Industry Jewelry Report can be purchased at JCKLasVegas.com/IndustrySurvey.
The Latest

The “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.

The New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.

Move over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.


Holiday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.

The red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

A trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.

Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.

The manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.

The jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.

The Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.

The 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.

De Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.
They are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.

Jewelry manufacturer Jewelex has partnered with JOSH, an industry training center, on a program for people with disabilities.

The collection includes pieces dating back to the Victorian and Art Deco periods as well as mid-century and late 20th-century designs.

He previously served as co-chair of the nonprofit’s beneficiary committee.

Its second collaboration with the conservationist features jewelry with dove and olive branch motifs.

The diamond manufacturer’s new company will provide accessible and affordable high-quality medicines across India.

Emmanuel Raheb shares tips on how a jeweler’s showcases, marketing, and social media presence can whisper, instead of shout.

The private equity firm has a plan to revive the mall staple.

The “Super Book of Gems” dives into the Mohs Hardness Scale, the Four C’s, and designs from jewelers like Cartier and Bulgari.

Claudio Pasta will take the lead at the Italian fine jewelry brand, succeeding company founder Licia Mattioli.

The new lab-grown diamond jewelry offering is the latest expansion of the designer’s “Bliss” collection.

The miner is honoring the end of an era with an offering of 52 lots from the now-closed Argyle and the soon-to-close Diavik mines.