MajorsMay 16, 2025
Saks Fifth Avenue, Amazon Partner on Luxury Online StorefrontPlus, parent company Saks Global announces plans to cut ties with up to 600 vendors.
TechnologyJul 12, 2017
Amazon’s 2017 Prime Day Was Its Biggest Sales Day Yet
The 30-hour-long event broke records again, surpassing both Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the e-tailer.
Seattle--Sales on Amazon Prime Day 2017, which officially kicked off Monday evening, surpassed Black Friday and Cyber Monday to make it the biggest sales day in company history, the e-tailer said Wednesday morning.
This year, Amazon made Prime Day bigger and broader in an effort to pull more consumers into its Prime membership.
It was 30 hours long, versus 24 last year, and offered in three additional countries--China, India and Mexico--bringing the total reach of the sales event to 13 nations worldwide.
It seems like the move was the right one, as sales this year were up by more than 60 percent when compared with the same 30-hour period last year, Amazon reported.
The company said year-over-year sales growth for small businesses and entrepreneurs who sell on the e-commerce site was even more than that.
While Amazon hasn’t provided specific sales figures for the day, Business Insider reported last week that JP Morgan analysts were estimating Amazon could rake in $1 billion on Prime Day, representing a 55 percent increase over last year.
What Amazon did report is that “tens of millions of Prime members made a purchase on Prime Day 2017,” representing more than a 50 percent increase on the prior year. Additionally, more new members joined Prime than on any other single day in the e-tailer’s history (again, exact numbers weren’t revealed.)
Overall, the most popular purchase was the Echo Dot, Amazon’s audio-enabled speaker that can act as a personal home assistant (its price dropped $15 on Prime Day to $34.99.) In fact, Prime members purchased seven times more Amazon Echo devices globally than on Prime Day 2016.
Excluding Amazon devices, the top sellers in the U.S. were a multi-use programmable pressure cooker and a DNA test.
Interestingly, the pressure cooker also was a top seller in Canada, along with an eight-pack of rechargeable AA batteries.
Meanwhile, in the U.K. the best-selling products were a smart plug that works with Alexa and the Sony Playstation 4, and in France and Belgium they bought up PlayStation Plus memberships and the complete set of “Game of Thrones,” seasons 1 through 6, on Blu-Ray.
In the U.S., the most popular themes to shop by were Home Chefs, Techies and For the Home.
Amazon started Prime Day, a day of deep website-wide discounts open only to those who sign for the e-tailer’s Prime membership, in 2015.
The day has grown in sales every year
but also has evolved in terms of quality of experience for shoppers.
The first year brought so many complaints from consumers that the hashtag #PrimeDayFail was popping up everywhere. Last year, there were some complaints about issues with adding items to carts.
This year, though, things appeared to go more smoothly, with fewer complaints circulating the Twittersphere.
The first year brought so many complaints from consumers that the hashtag #PrimeDayFail was popping up everywhere. Last year, there were some complaints about issues with adding items to carts.
This year, though, things appeared to go more smoothly, with fewer complaints circulating the Twittersphere.
More on Technology
The Latest
Recorded WebinarsMay 16, 2025
Watch: Physical Retail Is Not DeadPeter Smith joined Michelle Graff to chat about the state of brick-and-mortar stores and share a few book and podcast recommendations.
CollectionsMay 16, 2025
Piece of the Week: Tejen’s ‘Candy Bowl’ Torque NecklaceThe necklace features a candy-colored Australian white opal in 18-karat Fairmined gold, as the brand was named a Fairmined ambassador.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Supplier BulletinMay 15, 2025
Treasure Hunting at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch ShowSponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Weekly QuizMay 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsMay 15, 2025
'The Mediterranean Blue' Diamond Sells for $21M at Sotheby’sA private American collector purchased the 10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond.
CollectionsMay 15, 2025
Jessica McCormack’s ‘Fruit Salad’ Collection Is Fresh for SummerThe designer has taken the appeal of freshly picked fruit and channeled it into a capsule collection of earrings, necklaces, and pendants.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
SourcingMay 15, 2025
Tariffs Take Toll on India’s Gem and Jewelry Industry in April The country’s gem and jewelry exports fell 5 percent year-over-year last month, while imports declined 18 percent.
Policies & IssuesMay 15, 2025
State of Retail: How to Better Serve Customers With DisabilitiesAround 54 million Americans and counting live with a disability. Here’s how to make your jewelry store and website more accessible.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2025
Poet Sekou Andrews to Give Closing Keynote at ConvergeThe event is also accepting poster submissions now through June 16.
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Here’s What Happened to Pope Francis’ RingBefore Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.
AuctionsMay 14, 2025
Custom Rolex Pulled From Sotheby’s SaleThe one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.
Lab-GrownMay 14, 2025
State of Diamonds: What’s Next for Lab-Grown Diamonds?While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.
CrimeMay 14, 2025
Seattle Detectives Seek Public’s Help in Tiffany & Co. Robberies The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.
MajorsMay 14, 2025
Jeff Corey Elected Chair of JBT Board The well-known Maine jeweler takes over for Brian Fleming and will serve a one-year term.
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Foundrae Donates $11K to Ethical MetalsmithsThe donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.
IndependentsMay 13, 2025
Eiseman Jewels’ Renovated Dallas Store Is Bigger and BetterLocated in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
DCA Announces New Learning Platform, Course UpdatesThe nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
BIJC Launches New Education FundBIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.
TrendsMay 13, 2025
State of Jewelry Design: The Top 10 Jewelry Trends of the Past DecadeAs a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.
Lab-GrownMay 12, 2025
Lightbox to Go Dark by Summer, De Beers Says The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Policies & IssuesMay 12, 2025
Tariffs on Chinese Imports Temporarily Slashed as U.S.-China Reach Deal Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
Jewelry By Picasso, Dalí on Display at Florida Art Museum “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
IndependentsMay 09, 2025
Lugano Diamonds CEO Resigns Amid Internal InvestigationMoti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.
CollectionsMay 09, 2025
Pieces of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Collaborations for Mother’s DayLichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.
