Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
What you might have missed
The industry remembering designer Scott Kay and an alert from the JVC about diamond grading reports were the top stories on National Jeweler last week.

New York--Here are the five most popular stories from NationalJeweler.com for the week of Dec. 7 to 13, according to Google Analytics.
1. After designer’s death, Scott Kay Inc. to carry on. Following the unexpected death of Scott Kay on Dec. 4, the industry reflected on and remembered the designer and the impact he had on fine jewelry. The business opened again on Dec. 8 with the family saying that it would “forge on,” as Kay would’ve wanted.
2. JVC: Be careful about the grading reports you use. The JVC issued an alert last week reminding the industry that not only must the diamonds they sell be accurately graded but the grading system disclosed as well.
3. 8 tips for achieving add-on sales. As the Christmas holiday gets closer, now is the time to remind salespeople to ask for the add-on or to refresh the store’s techniques for making multiple sales. National Jeweler talked to a number of retailers across the country to ask them what their strategies were.
4. Diamond dealer robbed after being followed from show. Investigators believe that four men followed a diamond dealer and six employees from a trade show in Chicago to a rest stop near Rochester, Minn. before carrying out a $500,000 jewelry and diamond heist early on Dec. 8.
5. Former Signet CEO lands at boutique retailer. Last week it was announced that Mike Barnes, the former CEO of Signet Jewelers Ltd., had been named as chairman, president and CEO of Dallas-based specialty retail chain Francesca’s. Barnes resigned from his position at Signet in October, citing the desire to move to Dallas to be closer to his family.
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