Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
Pandora Posts Strong Online Growth in Q3 as Lockdowns Loom
The jewelry company expects to have to close 18 percent of its stores this month due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Copenhagen, Denmark—Pandora’s strong online sales helped to offset lower in-store traffic in the third quarter, but the Danish jewelry company is wary of new lockdowns on the horizon.
Third-quarter revenue totaled 4.07 billion Danish kroner ($640 million) compared with 4.42 billion kroner ($694.4 million) in the third quarter last year, an 8 percent drop.
Quarterly like-for-like sales were up 1 percent year-over-year. (Like-for-like represents true comparable sales from stores that have been open for at least a year, excluding currency fluctuations.)
Revenue for the first nine months of the year fell 20 percent to 11.12 billion Danish kroner ($1.75 billion) compared with 13.91 billion kroner ($2.19 billion) in the previous period.
Like-for-like sales were down 2 percent.
By product category, sales of charms were down 11 percent while sales of earrings fell 2 percent. Bracelet and rings sales both fell 6 percent.
The sole gainer was the necklaces and pendants category, up 4 percent.
By sales channel, Pandora-owned retail stores, including the online store, brought in 2.79 billion Danish kroner ($440.2 million), essentially unchanged from the previous year.
Wholesale sales sank 20 percent to 1.13 billion Danish kroner ($175.1 million).
In the third quarter, 25 concept stores closed. Franchisee takeovers in the U.K. boosted the number of Pandora-owned concept stores by six.
Pandora expects a net permanent closure of 50 stores in 2020, as previously announced.
Online sales were strong, totaling 841 million Danish kroner ($132.3 million), growing 89 percent year-over-year and accounting for 21 percent of total revenue.
Pandora said its online conversation rate improved, highlighting triple-digit growth in its online store in the U.K. in particular.
In the United States, Q3 revenue totaled 901 million Danish kroner ($141.7 million), up 4 percent year-over-year.
In the first nine months of the year, U.S. revenue has dropped 13 percent to 2.52 billion Danish kroner ($396.8 million)
Pandora said its performance in the U.S. market was strong, with online sales making up for reduced operating hours in most of its physical stores.
In the U.S., more than 275 stores offer a “click-and-collect” option.
“Traffic into Pandora stores was clearly outperforming general mall and jewelry industry traffic, driven by successful efforts in the reopening phase,” said Pandora, giving credit to its data-driven marketing initiatives that have allowed for greater personalization.
Looking ahead, Pandora raised its full-year guidance last month, expecting organic sales to fall 14 to 17 percent.
While Pandora did not change its guidance when reporting Q3 results Tuesday, it did note that
Pandora now expects 18 percent of its stores to be closed in November, with 24 percent of the network open but with reduced hours.
All Pandora stores in the U.K, France and Belgium are, or will be, temporarily closed.
“We are now facing a period with new lockdowns, but we are prepared to navigate through the heightened uncertainty, and we have the financial strength to sustain a prolonged period with lockdowns,” CEO Alexander Lacik said.
The Latest

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.


The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

José Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.

It has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.

The owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.

The retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.

Of the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.

Megan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.

Following decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.

The museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.

The new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.

The “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
























