Articles and News

Merrick, NY—Most luxury jewelers have plenty to smile about this holiday season. For the fourth week in a row, the Centurion Holiday Sales Success Index shows prestige jewelers are seeing notable increases in business over last year’s holiday season.

For the week beginning Monday, December 18 and ending Sunday, December 22, 2013, more than half of all respondents to the Centurion spot-check survey reported sales grew over last year, and fully one-fourth of all respondents reported increases of 10% or more over last year. About 19% reported sales were even with last year, but some jewelers are not as happy: one fourth of all respondents reported lower sales this year than last.

The weather, it seems, had a lot to answer for: it was cited for both positive and negative results. A weekend snowstorm had a huge negative impact on retail in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states early in the season, and one Texas jeweler said a huge ice storm the second week of December threw a monkey wrench into sales there. But another jeweler felt that more rain for farmers in his area over the course of the year was helpful.

One jeweler who has seen sales drop more than 10% blames the government and political wrangling. “Our state is hugely dependent on federal dollars, so I feel that between the sequestration, and the government shutdown, it has had a very noticeable effect on the overall economy of the state,” he wrote. But, looking on the positive side, he added, “My health is good and the skiing is good!”

Factors cited for sales gains this year included better trunk show results, fewer but higher-ticket sales, and big bridal sales.

Next week’s survey and report will cover luxury jewelry sales for the entire holiday 2013 season. Click here to take the survey and participate.

Top image: Smileystore.com