TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election NightGroundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.
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
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
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
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday AdJost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
Weekly QuizNov 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New CollaborationThe designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
AuctionsNov 03, 2026
Infinity Gauntlet Set With 170+ Carats of Colored Gemstones Up for AuctionA replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant Opens 2027 ApplicationsThe grant recipient will be awarded $50,000 as well as mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman and other industry executives.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Name 2026 Scholarship WinnersThe winners include a non-NAJA member seeking training, a member beginning NAJA courses, and a member becoming a Certified Master Appraiser.
AuctionsNov 02, 2026
197-Carat ‘Romanov Sapphire’ Heads to Sotheby’s GenevaThe rare jewel, which has links to Russia’s Romanov dynasty, is estimated to fetch up to $2 million.
CrimeNov 02, 2026
Customs Seizes More Than 400 Fake Audemars Piguet WatchesIt is one of several seizures of counterfeit jewelry and watches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Louisville this year.
MajorsNov 02, 2026
Lawrence Bock, Caryl Capeci, Amanda Coleman-Phelps Join JA Board Jewelers of America announced the additions to its board of directors following its annual general meeting, held last week.
CollectionsNov 02, 2026
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, Heller Jewelers Expand ‘Always Dream’ CollectionThe jewelry collection supports Yamaguchi’s Always Dream foundation, which provides reading and educational resources to families in need.
Events & AwardsOct 30, 2026
Illuminating Carved Paraiba Pendant, Suite of Moonstones Wow at Spectrum AwardsSpectrum’s “Best of Show” honors went to a 101-carat Paraiba carved to look like Medusa that has a magnet-activated LED light.
TrendsOct 30, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Pendants Say ‘Eye’m Watching You’Our Halloween Pieces of the Week are four “Eye” pendants, each set with colorful gemstones.
MajorsOct 30, 2026
The RealReal Hires Former eBay Exec as New Chief Merchandising OfficerAlexis Hoopes expanded eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” program during her tenure.
WatchesOct 29, 2026
Bucherer Opens Rolex Boutique in Washington StateThe Rolex-owned retailer’s new 4,700-square-foot store’s façade honors the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen forests.
