Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Pandora Continues to Reduce No. of Multi-Branded Retailers
The bead and jewelry company remains focused on strongly branded stores, opening more concept stores and shop-in-shops.
Copenhagen, Denmark--In the second quarter, Pandora continued to trim its network of multi-branded retailers in the Americas while opening more shop-in-shops and concept stores.
The Copenhagen-based bead and jewelry brand started the quarter with 1,783 multi-branded points of sale (gold-, silver-, white- and travel-level retailers) in the Americas and ended it with 1,679, a reduction of 104.
Since the year began, the number of multi-branded retailers that carry Pandora is down by a count of 159 doors, from 1,838 to 1,679. More than half of those (98) are the Jared the Galleria of Jewelry stores it has upgraded to shop-in-shops so far.
While Pandora did not specify how many of the 159 accounts it closed were gold- vs. silver-, white- and travel-level retailers, the company’s president for the Americas, Scott Burger, said in an interview earlier this year that the company thinks all retailers that carry Pandora should be gold-level or shop-in-shops.
The number of Pandora concept stores in the America, meanwhile, increased from 519 to 540 in the quarter while the number of shop-in-shops grew from 682 to 798.
In terms of revenue, Pandora reported a 5 percent year-over-year increase in sales in the Americas (10 percent in local currency). Sales in the United States rose 8 percent (11 percent in local currency).
Shop-in-shop revenue was down 4 percent in the quarter, due in part to the strong comps related to the Disney collection sell-in in the second quarter of 2015.
U.S. like-for-like concept store sales were up 2 percent, in spite of competition from Pandora’s online store and a “difficult retail environment.”
Product-wise, the company said that rings performed “very well” in the region, while charm sales were flat in local currency.
“All regions,” Pandora CEO Anders Colding Friis said in commenting on the results, “were supported by our continued focus on product diversification into rings and earrings.”
Globally, Pandora saw second quarter sales increase 20 percent (25 percent in local currency) year-over-year to $645.1 million.
The company noted that one-third of the revenue growth was organic, while two-thirds was attributable to the new stores and e-stores that opened in the last 12 months, including concept stores that the company bought back from retailers.
Gross margin increased from 71.5 percent to 75.3 percent.
Net profit for the quarter was $181.8 million, up from $135.6 million in the second quarter of 2015.
The Latest
In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Co-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.
‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”
For over a century, Jewelers of America has been the voice of the industry and valuable resource to jewelers across the country.
The average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.
The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
Feldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.
The luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.
Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.
DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.
Estimates on the size and value of the solitaire diamond, which is mounted on a diamond pavé-set yellow gold band, vary.
These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.
The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.
Carrie Forman joins the brand to guide it into the next phase of growth with major and independent retailers in the U.S. and abroad.