Though currently paused, high tariffs threaten many countries where gemstones are mined. Dealers are taking measures now to prepare.
Kohl’s To Lay Off 250 Employees Amid Restructuring
The retailer is trimming its workforce as it works to bounce back from a rough holiday season.

Menomonee Falls, Wis.—Kohl’s Corp. is laying off 250 employees at the corporate level as part of a restructuring plan, the company said.
The workforce cuts will affect employees at the company headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, its offices in New York and California, and other regional store leadership roles and positions.
The retailer said it will offer a severance package and outplacement services to those affected.
Kohl’s did not provide information on how many employees it has total, but a Forbes estimate has the retailer’s headcount at 129,000 as of May 2019, meaning the layoffs impact less than 1 percent of its workforce.
“This reorganization in our business will empower decision-making, reduce management layers, streamline communications and drive greater efficiency in many areas of our business,” said Jen Johnson, Kohl’s senior vice president of communications, in a statement emailed to National Jeweler.
Johnson stressed that the retailer is “in a position of financial strength,” adding that no stores or corporate offices will be closed and that hiring is ongoing in other areas.
The organizational changes are expected to streamline the business as its works toward long-term sustainable growth, she added.
The retailer had a rough holiday season, with same-store sales in November and December on the decline as sales of women’s apparel slowed.
Kohl’s ranks No. 28 on National Jeweler’s 2019 “$100 Million Supersellers” list, with an estimated $268 million in watch and jewelry sales in 2018.
The Latest

May babies are lucky indeed, born in a month awash with fresh colors and celebrated with one of the most coveted colored gemstones.

What’s really worrying U.S. consumers isn’t the present situation; it’s what the economy is going to look like six months from now.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Now called The Instore Jewelry Show, it will include holiday-focused education, interactive workshops, and a window display contest.


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.

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

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.

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.