Oct 21

Jewelry retailers can expect similar numbers from last year during this holiday season. The National Retail Federation conducted a survey and 22.8 percent of those polled hoped to receive jewelry. Last year, the same number responded in the same manner. Continue reading »
Oct 17
There are some things to watch out for when a stranger rents a room from you. While many people are trustworthy, many are not and that was certainly the case with a woman who rented a room to the daughter of a co-worker of her ex-husband. After divorce, money can be tight, so the woman, a Golden Estates resident, rented the room to her, not knowing that her jewelry and other items would turn up missing soon after the perpetrator moved in to her home.
The woman did receive her first month’s rent, but that was about it. The renter, Shannon McDonald, told her then landlord that she lost her job but was due a large sum of money very soon. That never happened, but the landlord did notice that some of her prescription medicine was missing. She later checked her jewelry box and noted that over $8,000 worth of items were missing including a watch, an emerald ring and a high school ring.
Continue reading »
Oct 14
Who better to make period pieces from the early twentieth century than Tiffany &Co.? The venerable jewelry company has partnered with Bazmark and Warner Bros. Pictures to create jewelry for the upcoming cinematic picture based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. It is a perfect partnership as Tiffany & Co. made many of the pieces that were worn in that era.
The pieces that have been created so far include diamonds set in platinum as well as those that include pearls as they were very popular during that time. The jewelry fits the time frame perfectly as would be expected from such a knowledgeable jewelry company. They can look back to pieces they created back then and recreate them with extra flair for the silver screen. Continue reading »
Oct 13
Lead in jewelry has been a problem in the past so regulations have been put into place to limit the amount of lead used in products of all kinds. Recently there have been recalls on children’s jewelry from China that contained a dangerous amount of lead. These jewelry designs were pulled from the shelves and the companies that produced them were ultimately reprimanded. Continue reading »
Oct 11
Those with the most money plan on spending it this holiday season. This bodes well for jewelry retailers and they should maintain high-end products for those willing to spend the big bucks. While carrying low end products is always a good idea, jewelry stores should stock some of the higher-end pieces just in case.
A recent survey puts holiday spending about 7 percent higher for those who make $250,000 a year or more. This means they will be looking for more items and if you have them you will have a better chance of making that lucrative sale. For those who make less than $250,000, spending will be down by quite a bit. Having the proper items will make all the difference in the world. Continue reading »
Oct 07
Paying your taxes is something we all have to do. There are ways to lower that burden, but lying is never a good choice. When you are caught evading taxes, you will have to pay much more, so it is in your best interest to pay all of the taxes that you owe the IRS. While many see this as a fact of life and do comply, there are some that do not want to pony up the cash and try to deceive the IRS hoping they won’t get caught. Continue reading »
Oct 05
Buying jewelry online can be a stressful endeavor. You never know if you will actually like the piece until you see it and try it on. That could be a problem as most online retailers do not have stores where you can see what you are buying. In most cases, you must look at pictures and many of the better jewelry retailers will allow you to look at their pieces from many different angles.
While this is not ideal, it works quite well as you can often return the item if it doesn’t fill your expectations. A diamond company by the name of Forevermark has initiated a new technology that will allow you to see what the item will look like on you. This helps you make your decision and does take a bit of work and particular hardware to make it happen. Continue reading »
Oct 04
October is a big month for fashion retailers as they release products that coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month. They get the ball rolling in August and no one is exempt. From the smallest jewelry manufacturers to big-label names, everyone wants to get in on the excitement of bringing attention to this horrible affliction.
This year is certainly no exception as retailers and charities are partnering with one another to get the word out using social media. Twitter and Facebook are two of the best ways to communicate with your customers and let them know what is going on with your October breast cancer activities and products. Continue reading »
Oct 03
Five people were arrested and accused in Forsyth County of robbery in connection with a cash and jewelry theft that occurred at a Cumming –area store. The first two suspects were apprehended quickly and without incident, one at a local motel and another at a house located in the Southwestern part of Atlanta.
Three more arrests were made on Thursday at the home of Connie Holloway, who was one of the suspects and the mother of another suspect, Michael Holloway. All of the suspects are accused of stealing $2.8 million worth of cash and jewelry and are being held without bond. Continue reading »
Sep 26
Toxic amounts of cadmium have been a problem for the jewelry industry in recent years. To show that they actually care how this impacts consumers, the jewelry industry has started regulating themselves and have helped the government determine the levels at which the toxin is unacceptable.
Currently, there are rules against using the heavy metal in jewelry, but the rules are disjointed and vary. This action will streamline the process and make it easier for manufacturers to follow. Cadmium can lead to cancer as well as other issues, but no deaths have been attributed to its intake. The voluntary standards are simply guidelines and state and local government limits take precedence. Continue reading »