5 Things to Know About Pandora’s Latest Results
From lab-grown diamond sales to its holiday performance, these are the key takeaways from the jeweler’s 2023 performance.
In its report on its full-year results, released Wednesday, the company delved into its holiday performance, lab-grown diamond sales, expansion plans, and its outlook for the year ahead.
Here are five key takeaways from the report.
Pandora had a good year.
Fourth-quarter revenue was up 10 percent year-over-year at actual exchange rates to 10.82 billion Danish kroner ($1.56 billion). It reported organic sales growth (excluding the impact of currency fluctuations) of 12 percent year-over-year, with like-for-like growth of 9 percent.
For the full year, revenue totaled 28.14 billion Danish kroner ($4.06 billion) at actual exchange rates.
Organic sales growth was 8 percent, above its guidance of 5 to 6 percent.
Like-for-like sales were up 6 percent.
Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik said, “We are very pleased with how we ended 2023 with strong trading across the holiday season.”
He touted the success of Pandora’s ongoing turnaround plan, dubbed “Phoenix,” even amid a “challenging” retail environment.
“Looking back at the past two years since we launched the Phoenix growth strategy, we are proud of how our strategic initiatives have come together to consistently drive strong results despite the challenging macroeconomic backdrop.”
Sales in the United States were up 13 percent at actual exchange rates in Q4 (15 percent at organic growth rates), accounting for 29 percent of the company’s total revenue.
For the full year, U.S. sales were up 5 percent at actual and organic growth rates, accounting for 30 percent of revenue.
A new campaign bolstered its holiday sales.
Pandora noted “solid growth” across geographies and collections, highlighting its new holiday campaign, “Loves, Unboxed,” as a primary growth driver.
It credited the campaign for driving an increase in traffic for Black Friday and Christmas.
Throughout the holiday season, Pandora ran the campaign on social media, noting particular interest in its tennis bracelets.
The campaign was accompanied by a special holiday “unboxing” event at the Sphere in Las Vegas and Pandora’s sponsorship of the British Fashion Awards in December.
Pandora recently launched a new campaign, “Be Love,” starring brand ambassadors Selma Blair and Chloe and Halle Bailey.
Its lab-grown diamond sales are climbing.
Pandora’s lab-grown diamonds were especially popular in Q4 with sales up 40 percent year-over-year.
For the full year, sales grew 24 percent.
Pandora now has four lab-grown diamond collections available in more than 70 stores in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Mexico, and Brazil.
Pandora said North America continued to account for the largest proportion of lab-grown diamond jewelry sales. Rings were the top-performing category, accounting for nearly half of all sales in Q4.
“Pandora will continue to optimize execution and take learnings going forward as it looks to be the go-to destination for lab-grown diamonds,” the company said.
Its other collections posted growth as well.
Pandora’s core segment, which includes its “Moments” and “Me” collections, as well as its collaborations, saw sales up 5 percent in the quarter and 4 percent for the year.
Its “fuel with more” segment, which includes its lab-grown diamond jewelry as well as its “Timeless” and “Signature” collections, saw sales up 26 percent in the quarter and 17 percent for the year.
Pandora’s store network expansion continues.
In Q4, the company opened 72 concept stores and 69 Pandora-owned shop-in-shops.
For the full year, net openings totaled 109 concept stores and 114 Pandora owned shop-in-shops.
“The net concept store openings have been relatively broad-based, mainly across the Americas and Europe, while the openings of Pandora owned shop-in-shops have been concentrated around Latin America,” the company said.
Looking to the year ahead, Pandora plans to open 75 to 125 net concept stores and 25 to 50 shop-in-shops.
It’s continuing to roll out its new store concept, Evoke 2.0, which incorporates a simplified layout and centers around personalization, including engraving services.
The company began testing the new store concept in late 2021 in Milan and London.
In 2023, Pandora opened 55 Evoke 2.0 stores, including refurbishments, and will scale up the rollout this year.
The company hopes 60 percent of its company-owned stores will be updated to Evoke 2.0 by 2026.
Pandora operated 2,651 concept stores as of Q4 as well as 4,035 other points of sale, including 578 owned by Pandora.
The company is uncertain how 2024 will play out.
Looking to the year ahead, Pandora expressed cautious optimism.
“The economic outlook for 2024 continues to remain uncertain,” said the company. “Continued inflation and still-high interest rates suggest another challenging backdrop for consumers across many markets.”
However, it plans to carry on with its Phoenix strategy and is aiming for growth in the year ahead.
The company is forecasting organic growth of 6 to 9 percent in 2024, with the low end of the guidance accounting for a potential decline in macroeconomic conditions, and an EBIT margin of around 25 percent.
Pandora is scheduled to report its interim first-quarter results on May 2.
The Latest
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Tobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
Stars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
The branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
The six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
The highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
The “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
The Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
The Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
It will award a graduating high school student with about $10,000 toward a GIA diploma and an internship with the Seattle-based jeweler.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.
Elvis Presley gifted this circa 1967 gold and diamond watch to Dodie Marshall, his co-star in “Easy Come, Easy Go.”
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.