Articles and News

Serious Stones at Sam’s

Will consumers be willing to shell out six figures to buy a diamond at a warehouse club? Sam’s Club, the warehouse-club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is betting—with proof in hand—that they will. Sam’s is seriously upping the ante in its jewelry department, according to this articlein the October 25 edition of Women’s Wear Daily. (Subscription may be required).

Slane & Slane, Now Slane

The designer jewelry firm Slane & Slane rebrands as Slane. Recently installed president and CEO Alexander Vreeland joked to Women’s Wear Dailythat he had to kill one of the sisters—referring to the duo of Heath and Landon Slane, the sibling artists behind the brand. Both still are alive and active in the firm, albeit with conflated name.

Bottom Line? Raise Prices.

Instead of coping with a down economy by discounting or lowering prices to tempt customers, try raising them to bring in more revenue, says this article in the Wall Street Journal. It’s a delicate line, but if done correctly, it works well.

Small Business Bankruptcies Declining

Bankruptcies among small businesses are declining and owners are newly optimistic, according to this articlefrom Reuters. In the jewelry industry, the figure is even smaller. According to Dione Kenyon of the Jewelers’ Board of Trade, of the hundreds of businesses close each year, only a fraction file for bankruptcy. The rest simply decide it’s time to close up shop.