CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
OtherAug 10, 2016
Why jewelry sales are like the weather
Retail today is comparable to the weather: the forecast depends largely on where the store is located and, just like weathermen and their wildly varying predictions, whom one asks for the outlook.
Warwick, R.I.--Retail today is comparable to the weather: the forecast depends largely on where the store is located and, just like weathermen and their wildly varying predictions, whom one asks for the outlook.
This was one perspective on the industry the Jewelers Board of Trade shared during its recent mid-year conference call, which took place July 24, a few days before the JBT released its statistics for the second quarter 2014.
The latest statistics show much of the same: the industry continues to shrink in size, slowly. There isn’t a landslide of new businesses rushing in and business discontinuances, particularly consolidations, are up year-over-year.
Through the first half of the year JBT statistics show that there were a total of 156 new jewelry business in the United States, the same as there were through the first six months of 2013. Including Canada, there were 159 new jewelry business year-to-date.
Meanwhile, business discontinuances for the U.S. and Canada have totaled 485 year-to-date, up from 411 at this point last year.
This includes a 60 percent increase in consolidations (sales or mergers) year-over-year, from 63 to 101, but a decline in bankruptcies, from 26 to 20.
All told, the JBT’s total listings for the U.S. and Canada are down slightly year-over-year, from 30,237 last year to 30,038 this year, a 0.7 percent decline.
The gradually shrinking state of the jewelry industry, which has witnessed a number of key mergers and acquisitions this year, not the least of which was the joining of giants Signet Jewelers and Zale Corp., coincides with another languid process: the recovery of the U.S. economy.
During the JBT’s mid-year conference call, President and CEO Dione Kenyon observed that, “slow growth is the story again for 2014.”
The International Monetary Fund recently cut its 2014 growth forecast for the U.S. economy from 2 to 1.7 percent. The National Retail Federation also lowered its expectations in light of the harsh winter that impacted first half sales, but said it expects sales growth to pick up in the remaining six months of the year.
RELATED CONTENT: NRF lowers 2014 sales growth forecast
Question marks surround some key factors contributing to economic growth, including the unemployment rate--jobless claims are going down, but how much of this is due to people who simply have stopped looking for work or are only employed part-time?--and the housing market, which is improving,
but only in some parts of the country.
Kenyon said holiday season retail sales rose 4 percent last year, making for an “OK” holiday season that favored the high end of the market.
It was not a holiday that “floated all boats,” she says, and much of the same is expected this year--retailers are going to have to work very hard for sales.
Still, the economy has come through the conditions experienced in 2008 and 2009 and the outlook, in general, seems to be positive among members of the jewelry industry, or at least those who participated in the JBT conference call.
When polled during the call about their sales results for the first six months of the year, 69 percent said they were the same (41 percent) or better (28 percent), and 91 percent said they expect to finish the year with sales on par (33 percent) or better than (58 percent ) last year’s figures.
This optimism did come with one caveat, shared by a JBT member and relayed by Kenyon: “Sales today are like the weather--it depends on where you are.”
More on Other
The Latest
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
