Go to Google.com and enter the search terms "scam," "jeweler" and "consumer." The results will include page after page of information to help consumers avoid scams conjured up by less than scrupulous jewelers, but where are the articles to help...

Maryland state tax increased from 5 percent to 6 percent. The Washington Post raised its newsstand price from 35 cents to 50 cents. General Motors increased the price of its 2008 automobiles by as much as $1,500. These are but...

Jewelry brands are jumping on the bag bandwagon. According to Women's Wear Daily, jewelry brands such as Asprey, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard and de Grisogono are expanding their offerings to include handbag collections. And why not? Brands such as Yves Saint...

From Victoria's Secret undies to UGG boots, products in American stores are being snapped up by foreign travelers visiting the United States. Some of this season's markdowns aren't even enticing enough to lure Americans out of their homes, so people...

This Saturday, I made a last-minute decision to finish my Christmas shopping. Metered parking was scarce in Midtown Manhattan and stop-and-go car traffic suggested that a cab ride would be extremely long and expensive. The boots I was wearing "were...

With the help of a New York-based organization, Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO), a project that turns weapons into jewelry has raised $300,000 to support rural Zambian communities and preserve wildlife. A total of 750 confiscated firearms and 40,000 wire...

Retailers trying to maximize their holiday sales can take a few tips from small-business Web site Business Know-How. These ideas, along with suggestions I added to make the site's strategies relevant to the jewelry industry, might do more than increase...

When it comes to shopping with the opposite sex, bear in mind that techniques and priorities vary. Women glide into stores and peruse the aisles, while their men trudge in, take a quick survey, estimate how long they're going to...

What happened to the taped-up-glasses wearing, pocket-protector-donning geeks everyone knew, loved and occasionally teased? They jumped on the latest technology wave, rode it to the shores of success and morphed into trendsetting techies. You're still not likely to see Internet...

At a recent Democratic presidential debate, University of Las Vegas-Nevada student Maria Luisa Parra-Sandoval asked Sen. Hillary Clinton if she preferred diamonds or pearls. Posing a fashion-related question to the only female candidate in the presidential race earned the political...

On Black Friday, we arrived at Target just as smiley-faced employees were passing out Target Shopping Survival Kits, cute environmentally correct red bags filled with a breakfast bar, flavored coffee and animal crackers. The tag on the bag promised the...

Recently, I attended and assisted with the planning of a 70s-themed surprise birthday party. It was hard to contain my laughter as I perused the aisles of Ricky's, Spencer's and other novelty shops known to carry black light bulbs, disco...

While listening to my uncle relay the story of an artist whose painting he had recently purchased, I was reminded of an article I read about men and jewelry. The artwork my uncle and I were discussing was thought-provoking, but...

Centuries ago, at the entrances to Spanish cemeteries, flags of French pirates and containers with poisonous substances all displayed skulls and crossbones, which later led to the symbol's association with death. How society evolved from shrieking at the sight of...

Do mid-scale department store shoppers on the West Coast have a love for Macy's that East Coasters don't seem to share? According to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Department Store Experience Study, Macy's came in last place...

Just as we've grown accustomed to celebrities slapping their names on everything from clothing to perfume, a new trend has emerged among their daughters. Offspring from Mick Jagger, Donald Trump and the fashion family Fendi all have recently launched jewelry...

Based on the results of a survey conducted by Big Research, Stores Magazine created the Favorite 50, a list of the most frequently used online retailers. Of course, the study tells us who's on top in e-tailing, but it also...

Consulting firm Hay Group has revealed that 26 percent of leading American retailers surveyed in a recent study said they are hiring fewer seasonal workers this year. An article on Reuters Shop Talk blog speculates that an increase in minimum...

Approximately 16 percent of consumers said they would no longer patronize a store after a bad experience, according to an article on the National Jeweler Network that reveals the results of a study conducted by MARC Research and National In-Store....

The similarities between a Swiss-made timepiece and a Wimbledon champion or PGA Tour winner is excellence in performance, a concept that can be easily conveyed in an ad campaign. So why are watchmakers, who typically pursue endorsement deals with star...

The list of designer exclusives commissioned to mark Neiman Marcus' 100-year anniversary include quite a few irresistible pieces. The Monroe Ring from Lana Jewelry's "Iconic" collection (shown here) is among those that recently caught my eye. Designer Lana Fertelmeister's favorite...

Victims of credit-card fraud stemming from a security breach at TJX should feel a sense of vindication now that a ring leader associated with the crime has been ordered to serve a five-year sentence and cough up $60,000 for damages....

I’m not sure what the traditional gift is for a 100-year anniversary, but John Hardy and designers around the world have gone a step beyond, creating wares exclusively for Neiman Marcus’ hallmark occasion. One example: the “Sunset Colorway” white sapphire...

Jeweler Boucheron is joining the small ranks of luxury brands that have begun using their Web sites for purposes other than enhancing brand awareness. The jeweler has loosened the reigns on its desire to control distribution and begins selling pieces...

The e-mail campaign for the new Saks.com boasts that the Web site is not "just pretty on the outside." The savvy cross- and pull-marketing tactics the retailer uses to boost online sales clearly demonstrate that it has earned bragging rights....