Events & AwardsJun 06, 2025
Here Are the 2025 Retailer Hall of Fame InducteesThis year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
EditorsDec 03, 2013
A case of the (holiday season) Mondays
It seems hard to believe considering that I feel like I am still new to New York, but this year marks my seventh straight calling retailers first thing on Monday morning to ask them how their weekend sales were.
It makes perfect sense, especially considering that so many of the jewelry-for-Christmas purchasers are men, who prefer to procrastinate until about Dec. 23 before making up their minds on gifts. Oh, boys …
Still, I think there is value in seeing how the holiday season started for retailers, what they sold, if anything, and how they think Thanksgiving weekend bodes for the rest of the holiday season. (In case you missed yesterday’s story, the answer for 2013 is very well.) We think it’s beneficial for retailers to know what their peers are up to and we hope you, our readers, feel the same.
I think it’s also worthwhile to look at the overall picture and, while there are many, many surveys out there these days, I rely on the data produced by the National Retail Federation, a trade organization for the retail industry as a whole.
One of the main takeaways from the NRF data is this: Outside of department stores, more consumers shopped online than anywhere else over the holiday weekend.
For the survey, the NRF polled more than 4,000 consumers and then extrapolated that data to paint an overall picture of consumer behavior over the weekend.
When asked where they shopped (a category in which they could pick more than one response), 54 percent of survey-takers said department stores while 42 percent said online. That’s more than picked discount stores (39 percent), electronics stores (32 percent) and clothing stores (29 percent).
Online shopping will only continue to grow in popularity, and retailers (must) know this by now.
While she hated to admit it as a brick-and-mortar storeowner, Arizona retailer Stephenie Bjorkman, CEO of Sami Fine Jewelry, acknowledged in our interview Monday morning that Amazon.com, the giant among online retailers, is pretty great, and I wouldn’t argue.
It is nice to be able to sit in the comfort of your own home, find exactly what you want by simply typing in a few keywords and have it delivered to your doorstep in no time at all,
all without having to get wet, be cold and fight crowds or traffic.
Almost everyone does it, at least once in a while. This past weekend, “almost everyone” totaled 59 million shoppers who spent 44 percent of the entire weekend’s budget online, according to the NRF.
So what does this mean for brick-and-mortar retailers, even those off to a fast start this holiday season? They need to make shopping in their store more than just shopping. It needs to be an experience.
Whether that involves throwing a holiday party with a fun theme, coming up with a fantastic giveaway that’s only available in-store and/or giving customers the ability to be part of the design process, it is something each store owner must decide for themselves, based on their demographics and resources.
But, if it wasn’t clear before, it certainly is now: putting merchandise in a display case and slapping a price tag on it isn’t enough anymore.
Or, as Arizona retailer Bjorkman puts it, “If you are going to compete with the Internet you have to do it on a personal level. If you’re just like every other store, why wouldn’t they buy online? It’s easier.”
Almost everyone does it, at least once in a while. This past weekend, “almost everyone” totaled 59 million shoppers who spent 44 percent of the entire weekend’s budget online, according to the NRF.
So what does this mean for brick-and-mortar retailers, even those off to a fast start this holiday season? They need to make shopping in their store more than just shopping. It needs to be an experience.
Whether that involves throwing a holiday party with a fun theme, coming up with a fantastic giveaway that’s only available in-store and/or giving customers the ability to be part of the design process, it is something each store owner must decide for themselves, based on their demographics and resources.
But, if it wasn’t clear before, it certainly is now: putting merchandise in a display case and slapping a price tag on it isn’t enough anymore.
Or, as Arizona retailer Bjorkman puts it, “If you are going to compete with the Internet you have to do it on a personal level. If you’re just like every other store, why wouldn’t they buy online? It’s easier.”
More on Editors
The Latest
CollectionsJun 06, 2025
Piece of the Week: Harwell Godfrey’s ‘Granny Squares Eleanor’ Necklace As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
The 12 Fresh Faces in Couture’s Design AtelierDiscover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.
Brought to you by
The True Power Behind the Counter: Why Sales Associates Are the Heart of the Jewelry BusinessWhen investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.
SourcingJun 05, 2025
A Rare Suite of Rubies Has Arrived in Las VegasThe “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.
Weekly QuizJun 05, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
MajorsJun 05, 2025
Platinum Guild International Updates Leadership TeamTwo existing executives have been given new roles.
Brought to you by
Clienteling Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s an Essential Business Model.More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.
Events & AwardsJun 05, 2025
Zillion Announces 'Women in STEM' Scholarship RecipientMeredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.
Lab-GrownJun 04, 2025
GIA Reverting to More General Terminology for Lab-Grown DiamondsIt will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”
Events & AwardsJun 04, 2025
As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 SessionsFrom design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.
CrimeJun 04, 2025
10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.
MajorsJun 04, 2025
Amy Curran Promoted at Hill & Co.Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
In Her Latest Collection, Viviana Langhoff Is Leaning Into GoldThe designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.
FinancialsJun 03, 2025
Signet Jewelers Sees Turnaround in Q1 With Sales Ticking Up 2%On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.
SurveysJun 03, 2025
Consumer Confidence Improves in May The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.
CollectionsJun 03, 2025
Dakota Johnson Is Roberto Coin’s New Brand AmbassadorThe actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.
GradingJun 03, 2025
Mason-Kay Jade Adds ‘Fei Cui’ to Jade ReportsThe company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."
SourcingJun 02, 2025
Gemfields’ June Auction to Include 36-Carat RubyThe large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.
GradingJun 02, 2025
GSI Opens New Lab in Thailand Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.
TrendsJun 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Three Gems for June Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.
SourcingJun 02, 2025
David Allouche Joins Grandview Klein DiamondsThe diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.
FinancialsMay 30, 2025
Movado’s Q1 Sales Slip Amid ‘Challenging’ Retail Environment The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Tariffs & Designers: Navigating Pricing in an Unstable EnvironmentBetween tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.
CollectionsMay 30, 2025
Piece of the Week: Renato Cipullo’s ‘Hematite Blaze’ NecklaceDesigned by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.
Policies & IssuesMay 30, 2025
Trade Court Declares Trump’s Tariffs InvalidHowever, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.
CollectionsMay 29, 2025
Britney Spears Files Trademark for New Jewelry LineThe pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.
