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.
FinancialsFeb 05, 2014
Blue Nile has showcase in second Nordstrom store
Blue Nile announced Thursday that it has set up a second in-store display, this one in the Nordstrom bridal suite at Roosevelt Field, a large mall on New York’s Long Island.
Seattle--Blue Nile announced Thursday that it has set up a second in-store display, this one in the Nordstrom bridal suite at Roosevelt Field, a large mall on New York’s Long Island.
Revealed during the company’s fourth quarter and full-year earnings conference call held Thursday morning, the display is “only a test,” said CEO Harvey Kanter--a point he emphasized twice--“But it underlines our pursuit to extend Blue Nile’s reach to the engagement ring customer and give them the opportunity to experience our high-quality products in person.”
Blue Nile’s first in-store display debuted last year at the Nordstorm flagship store in Seattle and marked the first time the Seattle-based online retailer had shown its products in a physical store.
RELATED CONTENT: Blue Nile now displaying its rings in a store
Kanter said the goal is to see if having a display of products in a physical store, and having a Blue Nile “diamond jewelry consultant” there to interact with consumers, will materially increase the e-tailer’s conversion rate.
The display is “inventory light,” meaning not very big, and for display only. Consumers must still buy from Blue Nile online, though the retailer does collect their email address at Nordstrom.
“While this is only a test we are excited about what this type of partnership could mean for the future of Blue Nile,” Kanter said Thursday.
In the fourth quarter ended Dec. 29, Blue Nile’s sales increased 7 percent year-over-year from $136.1 million to $146.0 million. Engagement ring sales were up 7 percent to $78.7 million while non-engagement ring sales rose 8 percent to $45.9 million.
Gross profit totaled $27.2 million and was 18.6 percent as a percentage of net sales, compared with 18.8 percent in the fourth quarter 2012.
For the fiscal year, net sales reached $450.0 million, an increase of 13 percent compared with the prior fiscal year. Engagement ring sales rose 13 percent in the period while non-engagement net sales were up 9 percent.
Gross profit for the fiscal year totaled $83.7 million, up from $75.1 million in fiscal year 2012.
International sales rose 7 percent from $20.0 million to $21.4 million during the quarter and were up 17 percent, from $62.4 million to $73.2 million, in the fiscal year.
Though Kanter said in a statement issued Thursday that the company was pleased with its “continued momentum,” executives did acknowledge that their full-year sales came were at
the low end of their expectations.
The sales shortfall was due, in part, to the shorter holiday shopping season. Consumers, the company said, did not have enough time for a “highly considered” jewelry purchase.
Blue Nile also noted that it has seen a pull-back in purchasing by consumers early in 2014.
Going forward, Blue Nile is focusing on mobile. Kanter said during the call that the company’s mobile commerce initiatives were not completed as planned in the fourth quarter and will continue to be fine-tuned going forward.
During the course of the quarter, the retailer said its mobile traffic topped 50 percent, and is coming more from tablet computers than smartphones. Blue Nile also is witnessing more revenue, a higher percentage of visits and a greater spend per person via mobile than it has in the past.
In addition, the e-tailer plans to add more designer jewelry to its inventory, following the success of its Monique Lhuillier-branded line of bridal rings, and also plans to launch a “designer collective” section of its site this year, an area dedicated specifically to different jewelry designers.
More on Financials
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.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
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.
ColumnistsMay 25, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
