Chain retailers Target and J.C. Penney have announced changes withihn their executive ranks while Antiquorum has a new director for its auctions in New York. These are among the career moves in the jewelry industry as of late.

Gesswein, a supplier of tools, equipment and supplies for metalworking industries, has announced the opening of the company’s new headquarters here.

When the New York Giants take the field against the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, some 173 million people will be watching, up from 171 million last year, the NRF’s annual Super Bowl survey shows.

A new pricing strategy that revolves around fewer sales and revamped stores that are divided into small brand shops are among the changes announced by J.C. Penney Co. Inc. in New York on Wednesday. The chain is in the midst of a major overhaul following the hiring of Apple Inc. retail mastermind Ron Johnson in the fall.

Amazon.com has displaced Zappos as the U.S. retailer offering the best customer service, according to the 2011 “Customers’ Choice” survey conducted by American Express and the National Retail Federation.

Retailers’ holiday sales this year increased 4 percent over 2010 to $471.5 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

A change at the top of J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s board of directors and a new member of the exclusive 24 Karat Club of the City of New York were among the major appointments of late in the jewelry industry.

The 24 Karat Club of New York held its annual banquet Saturday night at the Waldorf Astoria, offering a night of conversation and entertainment to celebrate the club’s 110th anniversary.

Birks & Mayors Inc. announced that Jean-Christophe Bédos, previously of luxury jeweler Boucheron, will succeed the company’s current president and CEO, Thomas A. Andruskevich, who last year announced his planned spring 2012 departure.

Late holiday shoppers, both in the week leading up to Christmas and on the day after, boosted retail sales this year, according to ShopperTrak and The NPD Group.

An executive with the company that operates, among other businesses, two off-price shoe store chains in the United States has been selected as the new CEO of jewelry company Pandora, the Danish jewelry maker announced on Monday.

The National Retail Federation announced Thursday that it now expects holiday sales to rise 4 percent to $469.1 billion, up from its 3 percent forecast issued in October.

Consumers have made their lists and checked them twice. But, at this point, they’ve only purchased about half of what they need, the latest survey from the National Retail Federation shows.

More than a third of United States consumers are already done with most of their holiday shopping, a Reuters survey found, signaling that retailers need to offer big incentives to win sales in the last weeks before Christmas.

Executive changes at two of the nation’s largest jewelry retailers--Sterling Jewelers Inc. and J.C. Penney Co. Inc.--were among the personnel changes that took place in November.

Shoppers will spend more on gift cards this year than they have in three years with total spend in the category reaching $27.8 billion, the National Retail Federation predicts.

Record weekend spending was fueled by earlier-than-usual Black Friday openings at a number of major retailers, two post-weekend surveys show.

New U.S. CEO of De Beers Diamond Jewellers Devon Pike discusses areas in the digital realm, where she thinks the retailer has room to grow, and future plans for the chain in the United States.

The National Retail Federation has announced the top 10 retailers for excellent customer service as selected by shoppersin the seventh annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers’ Choice survey.

Neiman Marcus has announced that 10 of its stores will begin carrying Forevermark diamonds this week.

Helzberg Diamonds has announced the launch of Helzberg Heroes, a military program aimed at showing those in the military--whether on active duty or retired--and their families that they are loved and appreciated for their service to the United States.

The latest SpendingPulse data from MasterCard Advisors shows that retail momentum carried over from September into October but that what consumers were buying changed.

Fewer retailers are expecting fraud return rates to grow this holiday season, due in part to enhanced return policies and requiring identification from customers when receipts are not present during the return process.

News reports surfaced earlier this week that London-based Graff Diamonds is planning to launch a $1 billion initial public offering next year in Hong Kong.

The growing importance of mobile in retail and consumers’ desire for something more than just the best price were two of the holiday season trends outlined by the National Retail Federation.