Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Here’s How Consumers Plan to Shop This Holiday Season
According to a survey from NPD, more shoppers intend to patronize brick-and-mortar stores than last year.
Port Washington, N.Y.—The NPD Group polled a group of consumers to gauge their holiday 2018 shopping plans, and participants indicated more interest in brick-and-mortar shopping than last year.
A total of 3,605 people in the United States completed the “Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey.”
Unsurprisingly, 77 percent of survey-takers said they would do some of their holiday shopping online.
But notably, six out of 10 people said their shopping plans included in-store shopping at brick-and-mortar retailers, a 3 percent increase from last year. Forty-two percent indicated they would patronize mass merchant and discount stores, 24 percent said they would shop at national chains and 23 percent at department stores.
“While their sales are growing, retailers selling primarily online shouldn’t rest on their past success,” said The NPD Group’s Chief Industry Advisor Marshal Cohen. “They have to continue to create and find ways to close the deal more effectively and reduce the number of digital shopping carts abandoned before the final sale is completed.”
The NPD advised that retailers continue to emphasize creating the best omnichannel retail experience possible, particularly since product research happens primarily online, rather than on TV or in magazines and catalogs.
Cohen continued: “The traditional division between online and in-store retailing continues to shift and blur. Traditional store retailers are upping their online games these days, while they are also finding ways to drive traffic to stores with improved efficiency, more entertaining shopping experiences and better value.
“Online retailers are also finding ways to blur the retail divide in their own ways, offering lower prices and shipping options that get products to consumers faster than ever.”
When it comes to online shopping options, survey participants listed Amazon, which is still primarily an online-only company, as the top destination and 70 percent said their shopping would include online-only businesses.
More than half of consumers polled said they would research gifts before purchasing on Amazon.com, while 37 percent said they would look at consumer reviews and another 37 percent said they would find information via search engines.
“Where shoppers make their buying decisions is a critical step in the holiday shopping process,” Cohen said. “Product research increasingly happens online, first at major shopping sites and on social media, these days. TV, magazines and catalogs are far less important than they once were.”
Brick-and-mortar-only shoppers indicated they planned to spend an average of $492 this year, while
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.