CrimeDec 15, 2025
Men Receive Life Sentences in Home Invasion Murder of Jeweler Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
EditorsNov 19, 2014
Retail words of the year
On Tuesday, Oxford Dictionaries named its 2014 “Word of the Year,” the orderly amassing of letters that, according to the professional wordsmiths at Oxford, has “attracted a great deal of interest during the year to date.”
Oxford crowned “vape” the word of the year in 2014. Vape can be used as a noun or a verb (but, then again, can’t almost anything these days?) and refers to an e-cigarette device (n.) or the physical act of breathing an e-cigarette’s vapor (v.).
Word of the year runners-up included normcore, a trend in which unfashionable clothing is worn as a fashion statement (clearly hipsters’ habits are creeping out of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and into our daily lexicon); slacktivism, when one’s political activism is limited to, for example, liking a cause on Facebook; and bae, a term of endearment for one’s significant other.
All this nerdy word talk near year’s end got me thinking about the trends that shaped retailing in 2014, and the words we use to define them.
At first, I was going to make this blog a list of three, or perhaps even five, words that sum up the year for jeweler. People love lists nowadays, don’t they? The 10 wedding dresses weirder than Solange Knowles, the 50 best memes of Kim Kardashian’s naked posterior, the five cat videos one can’t live without ... we just can’t get enough, apparently.
But then I thought, lists be damned. I am going to do this one at a time.
The first word that came to mind when I applied the retail lens to Oxford’s Word of the Year exercise was omnichannel, giving customers a seamless shopping experience whether they are in the store, shopping from a desktop or mobile device, or browsing a brand via social media.
Omnichannel retailing is evidence of something one industry analyst told me a few years ago that has stuck with me: People have shopped at brick-and-mortar stores since the marketplaces that served as the centerpieces of ancient civilizations.
Shopping is more than just getting what you need. It’s a social experience as well, and that’s never going to disappear entirely in favor of buying from an iPad. The millions of people who will be rounding up their sisters, cousins and aunts to hit the stores right after Thanksgiving dinner? That’s as much about socializing as it is shopping.
But the Internet has changed how people shop, obviously.
At first, the Internet created this us-vs.-them construct, pitting traditional brick-and-mortar stores against pure-play online retailers.
For independent
jewelers, it seemed at one point that they were losing the battle to online engagement ring sellers like Blue Nile.
As time wore on, however, the playing field began to level out a bit. Jewelers learned how to better compete with their online nemeses, and consumers began to find more of a balance, embracing both the convenience of the Internet while at the same time gravitating toward retailers who share their values. (To this end, I think the impersonal nature of the Internet has been, in some ways, a boon for small, locally owned businesses. But that is a topic for part II of this blog when I discuss another one of my Word of the Year picks, local.)
The novelty of buying online has worn off, and it’s no longer about online vs. off--the independent jeweler battling Blue Nile, or the local bookstore taking on Amazon. It’s about allowing the customer to shop when and where they want. Amazon and Blue Nile know this, and that’s why they are making a push to have a physical presence. They can’t compete on price alone. They must be able to personally connect with consumers.
If customers want to come into a store to touch and feel a product then go home and, after thinking about it, buy it online at midnight from their iPad while watching Netflix in their pajamas, then retailers have to give them the ability to do that. Customers have come to expect this kind of flexibility. If one store doesn’t provide it, then the competitor down the street will.
If customers choose to shop online but then don’t like what they order, they expect to be able to return it in the store. They might not have the time or the inclination to repackage the product and send it back through the mail. They also might decide, as I have many times, that they’d rather see the merchandise in person before purchasing. That is all the better for retailers today, who are looking for ways to get people into their stores.
That’s what ominchannel is all about, and it’s everything right now in retail. That’s why it’s one of my words of the year.
As time wore on, however, the playing field began to level out a bit. Jewelers learned how to better compete with their online nemeses, and consumers began to find more of a balance, embracing both the convenience of the Internet while at the same time gravitating toward retailers who share their values. (To this end, I think the impersonal nature of the Internet has been, in some ways, a boon for small, locally owned businesses. But that is a topic for part II of this blog when I discuss another one of my Word of the Year picks, local.)
The novelty of buying online has worn off, and it’s no longer about online vs. off--the independent jeweler battling Blue Nile, or the local bookstore taking on Amazon. It’s about allowing the customer to shop when and where they want. Amazon and Blue Nile know this, and that’s why they are making a push to have a physical presence. They can’t compete on price alone. They must be able to personally connect with consumers.
If customers want to come into a store to touch and feel a product then go home and, after thinking about it, buy it online at midnight from their iPad while watching Netflix in their pajamas, then retailers have to give them the ability to do that. Customers have come to expect this kind of flexibility. If one store doesn’t provide it, then the competitor down the street will.
If customers choose to shop online but then don’t like what they order, they expect to be able to return it in the store. They might not have the time or the inclination to repackage the product and send it back through the mail. They also might decide, as I have many times, that they’d rather see the merchandise in person before purchasing. That is all the better for retailers today, who are looking for ways to get people into their stores.
That’s what ominchannel is all about, and it’s everything right now in retail. That’s why it’s one of my words of the year.
More on Editors
The Latest
Policies & IssuesDec 15, 2025
Sara Yood Named Co-Chair of RJC Standards CommitteeYood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.
IndependentsDec 15, 2025
M.S. Rau to Open Store in AspenThe New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
AuctionsDec 12, 2025
13.54-Carat Paraíba Tourmaline Sets Records at Christie’sSet in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.
Weekly QuizDec 11, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsDec 12, 2025
David Webb Reveals Ice-Cold Holiday Window DisplayThe jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.
CollectionsDec 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Oscar Heyman’s Sphene RingTake luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
Events & AwardsDec 12, 2025
IGI Jewelry Design Contest Now Accepting SubmissionsThis year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”
TrendsDec 11, 2025
Pinterest 2026 Trend Report: Brooches, Bold Gold, Cool BlueIn its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.
GradingDec 11, 2025
GIA to Offer Origin Determination for 3 More GemstonesStarting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.
IndependentsDec 11, 2025
Look Inside Day’s Jewelers’ Ninth StoreThe 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.
MajorsDec 11, 2025
Americas Gold Releases New Gold Chain CatalogThe new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.
AuctionsDec 10, 2025
Francis Ford Coppola’s Watch Sells for $10.8MThe filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.
WatchesDec 10, 2025
There’s A New Rolex Boutique in MiamiThe new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.
SurveysDec 10, 2025
Consumer Confidence Drops in November Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.
SourcingDec 10, 2025
NAJA Announces Details for 2026 ‘Ace It’ Winter Conference“Longtime favorite” presenters, as well as first-time speakers, will lead talks and workshops at the annual event in Tucson next year.
Events & AwardsDec 10, 2025
MJSA Names 2025 Responsible Design Challenge WinnerSilas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.
AuctionsDec 09, 2025
‘Desert Rose’ Diamond Sells for $8.8M in Abu DhabiThe sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.
ColumnistsDec 09, 2025
Holiday Sales Happen in December, Most Decisions Don’tMost customers who walk into your store this month have made up their minds. Your job is to validate their choice, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
TrendsDec 09, 2025
‘Once Upon a Time,’ Guzema Debuted Its Holiday CollectionThe collection features characters and motifs from Ukrainian folklore, including an enchanted mirror and a magic egg.
TechnologyDec 09, 2025
Gemvision Releases Updated MatrixGoldMatrixGold 3.11, the newest version of the jewelry design program, offers more flexibility, precision, and creative control.
Events & AwardsDec 09, 2025
MJSA Showcase Pavilion Returning to JA New York The pavilion will be part of the 2026 JA New York Spring show, scheduled for March 15 to 17.
MajorsDec 08, 2025
Juell Kadet, a ‘Lifelong Pillar’ of Rogers & Hollands, Dies at 96Kadet, a 1994 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductee, helped grow the family-owned retailer in the Chicago area and beyond.
TechnologyDec 08, 2025
You’ve Heard of Smart Watches and Rings; Meet Smart EarringsBilled as the world’s smallest wearable, Lumia Health’s new smart earrings have a health tracker subtly embedded in the back.
TrendsDec 08, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Celebrating December’s BirthstonesDon’t let those with December birthdays feel blue. Help them celebrate their month with blue zircon, turquoise, and tanzanite.
CollectionsDec 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s ‘Tsar Star’ EarringsThe new pink sapphire version of the piece dances with its wearer in the brand’s “Icons After Dark” holiday campaign.
