He’s remembered as a “font of passion,” leaving behind a legacy of dedication to his craft and community.
Blue Nile Makes 2 West Coast Moves
The online jeweler recently opened its fourth “webroom,” in Portland, Ore., and said its fifth will be in Seattle.
Seattle--By year’s end, Blue Nile will have at least five “webrooms” across the United States, brick-and-mortar locations where customers can try on--but cannot buy--merchandise.
The online jeweler’s fourth webroom, located in Washington Square mall in Portland, Ore., opened Friday. Its opening marked Blue Nile’s first space on the West Coast.
In addition, the e-tailer announced Monday that it plans to open a fifth webroom in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue by Thanksgiving. The store will be located in the Bellevue Square shopping center, a mall that’s already home to Tiffany & Co., Na Hoku, Ben Bridge and a Rolex boutique run by Ben Bridge, among other fine jewelry sellers.
Bellevue Square is located near Blue Nile’s corporate headquarters in Seattle. Because of this, the webroom’s opening will not have any sales tax implications, as Blue Nile already has to collect sales tax in Washington state due to its physical presence there.
CEO Harvey Kanter said during the company’s second quarter earnings call in early August that the retailer was pushing to get a fifth physical location open by the end of the year but did not provide details on the location.
Investment in webrooms, plus upgrades to its website, are part of Blue Nile’s plan to “improve the user experience” and, ultimately, increase sales.
Blue Nile’s webrooms are 500 to 700 square feet in size, employ five to six salespeople and a general manager.
The webrooms give the website’s customers a place where they can try on engagement rings--which are set with cubic zirconia--and other jewelry, which features real diamonds. All sales still happen online though; shoppers do not walk out of the webrooms with their purchases.
The e-tailer’s other three physical locations are located in New York state (in White Plains and on Long Island) and in the Tysons Corner Center mall in Fairfax County, Va.
The Latest
The first one will take place next month during the Jewelers of Louisiana’s and Mississippi Jewelers Association’s conventions.
The redesigned boutique features interactive displays and a workshop space for hands-on learning about watchmaking.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
There is a willingness to comply with new government-mandated regulations, with an insistence that they should be practical and realistic.
A combination of factors is driving growth in the industry despite the precipitous drop in prices across the board.
The zone’s modernization will enhance and increase India’s jewelry manufacturing capabilities while aiding small and mid-sized businesses.
Ho Brothers offers scalable solutions for the future of custom jewelry.
By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.
The company plans to invest $25 million in marketing initiatives to boost awareness around its namesake and licensed brands.
Optimism about the current state of the economy was offset by anxiety around inflation and the political environment.
The former WJA executive director is MFM’s new managing director.
DDG encourages retailers to educate customers on the positive impact of purchasing natural diamonds.
Highlighting the most iconic Tiffany collections, it’s inspired by the company’s late window designer, Gene Moore.
Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen explore how jewelers can save time and money by using AI to analyze engagement and create content.
The retailer previously turned down an $8.4 billion offer in 2018.
The Florida store’s owner Miguel Gonzalez is retiring.
The lab stresses the importance of accurate identification, as the difference in price is “substantial.”
The brand also plans to expand its retail footprint from 138 to 200 stores over the next three years.
One is reserved for a NAJA member, the other for a non-member.
Longtime employees Carie Lehrke and Megan Mattice have received promotions.
Three guests joined National Jeweler and Jewelers of America to discuss trending time periods, spotting reproductions, and more.
Chris Clipper and Robert Lepere join the company with 50 years of combined experience.
The trendy, metallic earrings wink at classic spring colors.
JSA said a man and woman pulled the safe out of an Oakland jewelry store but couldn’t quite get it into their van.
The miner’s March auction generated $19 million.
Helen McCluskey will succeed H. Todd Stitzer when he meets his 12-year term limit in June.