Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Hurricanes, Sluggish Retail Hurt Pandora in the Americas
In the third quarter, Pandora’s U.S. sales declined 2 percent in Danish krone and they are down 3 percent so far this year.
Copenhagen, Denmark--The retail environment in the United States remains challenging, particularly for physical stores, Pandora said in reporting its third quarter 2017 results Wednesday.
In the quarter ended Sept. 30, the Danish bead brand’s U.S. sales totaled $174.2 million, compared with $177.8 million in Q3 2016, a decline of 2 percent in Danish krone (DKK) but an increase of 4 percent in local currency.
Pandora said any growth in sales was driven primarily by the opening of new stores, including the franchise stores it acquired during the quarter.
For the first nine months of the year, revenue was down 3 percent in the U.S. in both DKK and the dollar.
The company described the retail environment in the United States as “challenging,” with its online store seeing sales growth but physical stores continuing to struggle, and noted that “affordable” jewelry brands are being “increasingly promotional.”
It also noted that it lost about $7.8 million due to the hurricanes that hit the United States and Puerto Rico in Q3 and expects that loss to grow to about $23.4 million for the year.
In recent years, Pandora has pulled its product out of jewelry stores--including hundreds of independents in the U.S.--while also buying back concept stores once controlled by franchisees and opening more company-owned stores in order to, it has said, have better control over the brand.
This year in the U.S., Pandora purchased 50 concept stores from franchisees between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30.
Globally, Pandora’s revenue was up 13 percent year-over-year in the third quarter to $809 million.
Gross margin slipped from 75.1 percent to 74.2 percent.
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $306 million, with an EBITDA margin of 37.8 percent, down from an EBITDA margin of 39.9 percent last year.
Pandora said the drop was mainly due to unfavorable currency fluctuations and higher marketing expenses.
The Asia-Pacific region is becoming an increasingly important market for Pandora. The company’s third quarter results show that in the first nine months of 2017, the Americas accounted for 32 percent of global revenue, down from 36 percent in the same period last year, while Asia Pacific was at 23 percent, up from 19 percent last year.
“The results in the third quarter were in line with our expectations, with the underlying development showing positives as well as negatives,” CEO Anders Colding Friis said. “Most of our major growth markets--Germany, Italy, Australia and China--continued to show strong performance
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.