BIG Newsletter: The State of Retail 2016
“The State of Retail – 2016”, a comprehensive report, this group surveyed 5,444 consumers, asking in depth questions regarding their perceptions and behaviors around retail shopping. Some of the key takeaways were very interesting, but the overall message was very clear.
Wearable Technology at CES – Day Two
We have to remember in the industry, the tech world is coming. Both manufacturers and retailers need to start paying attention to this category.
Wearable Technology at CES – Day One
So I arrived in Las Vegas this morning to attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). What was I expecting? Well, I have been coming here for almost 25 years to the jewelry shows, so how different could this be? Well if we thought it was busy during jewelry week, you have no idea what busy means!
BIG Newsletter: How to Analyze the Year
I spend many hours the week between Christmas and New Year analyzing what happened across the country to get a sense of the state of the economy, the industry and the individual jewelry company. I’m looking for context, patterns, signs to be optimistic about and signs of concern that cause me to pick up the phone.
December BIG Newsletter: Synthetic Diamonds
There are those who believe the introduction of synthetic diamonds is a benign inevitability; the marketplace will find a place for them and their introduction won’t have any effect on the natural diamond market. I’m not one of them.
Synthetic Diamonds: Opportunity or Problem?
Synthetic diamonds have been around for many years and have naturally been compared with other synthetic gemstones regarding the minimal effect that those synthetics have had on the value and marketability of their natural counterparts. Why should man-made diamonds be more problematic?