Gretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
Frederick Goldman has luxurious plans for Scott Kay
With the brand now under its belt, executives at Frederick Goldman Inc. are planning to propel the business’s bridal and fashion lines into a more high-end arena and access an expanded base of consumers.

New York--With the Scott Kay brand now under its belt, executives at Frederick Goldman Inc. are planning to propel the business’s bridal and fashion lines into a more high-end arena and access an expanded base of consumers.
“I don’t think I could describe it by a price point, but we’re going to be in the luxury piece of that space,” Jonathan Goldman, chairman and CEO at Frederick Goldman, told National Jeweler. “I think what we’ll do is look at the average selling price they’re at today, and I think we will be increasing that price point a bit.”
Goldman said that future plans also include possibly expanding Scott Kay offerings to include accessories in addition to jewelry, although he couldn’t relay what specific accessories since they’re “still in the process of creating that road map.” If and when Frederick Goldman decides to start selling Scott Kay-branded accessories, they won’t be alone in that space. Tiffany & Co. has been selling purses for several years, and Le Vian just introduced a line of scarves, handbags, wallets and shoes at the Vicenzaoro show in Italy.
When asked if Frederick Goldman was able acquire Scott Kay Inc. for a good price, Goldman said the company wouldn’t be disclosing the purchase price but noted that, “Scott did a terrific job of building brand equity.”
The announcement of Frederick Goldman’s purchase of Scott Kay came nearly two months to the day after the designer died of a heart attack. The brand’s design, sales and marketing will continue to operate as a separate identity, with Adam Gurian, executive vice president of global sales and merchandising at Frederick Goldman, assuming the role of general manager for Scott Kay on an interim basis, “as we search for an experienced leader from the luxury goods business,” Goldman said. Scott Kay Inc.’s current CEO David Minster will be leaving the company.
Kay’s daughter, Tiffany Kay, will remain vice president of merchandising. She appeared on QVC on Feb. 1, Super Bowl Sunday, the brand’s first appearance on the home shopping network, where it is selling necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings made in sterling silver and set with gemstones and Diamonique, the brand name QVC uses for cubic zirconia.
“(The QVC launch) went wonderfully for us,” Kay told National Jeweler. “During the first on-air presentations, eight items were posted as sellouts. Since our brand launched on the network,
The initial QVC line ranges in prices from approximately $85 to $500, Kay said, adding that the current plan is to only sell sterling silver and fashion pieces on the network.
“We want to heighten brand awareness,” she said of the debut. “It’s going to bring this halo effect to the brand in the consumers’ mind.”
For Frederick Goldman, the purchase of Scott Kay--an opportunity afforded by the unfortunate and untimely death of the brand’s namesake--also is about brand awareness.
Howard Feller, a partner at MMG Advisors, an investment bank that specializes in retail- and fashion-related mergers and acquisitions, said Frederick Goldman’s purchase of the company provides it with a well-respected brand that has strong consumer awareness in bridal and fashion jewelry.
“At a time when jewelry wholesalers are under pressure to offer distinctive products to retailers that allow both the retailer and wholesaler to maintain healthy gross profit margins, the larger suppliers in the industry are very much focused on acquiring, licensing or building strong brands that can achieve those objectives,” he said.
“Scott Kay provides Frederick Goldman with an expanded base of customers to which it can also offer its existing product lines, and it gives Frederick Goldman a higher price point collection in bridal jewelry that it can offer to the Frederick Goldman customer base.”
Goldman echoed this sentiment.
“We do have several brands under our belt, but we didn’t have a brand in the luxury space, so this fits perfectly in our strategic plan to acquire something in that space,” the CEO said. “Quite frankly, there aren’t a lot of companies recognized by the consumer in that space in the jewelry business, so this is a unique opportunity for us, and an exciting one.”
The Latest

Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.

With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

Laughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.


The California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.

A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.

The auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.

Zaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.

Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.

The British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.

The “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.

Nelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.

Cat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.

Arnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.

The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.

The stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.

Engagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.

Former Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.

The veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.

Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).

The labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.

“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.

This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.






















