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Worth Reading (or Watching): Relevant Business News From Around the Web November 15, 2010 (0 comments)
Good news for jewelers everywhere—consumers are beginning to focus on holiday “want” again, with jewelry a top category! Also, congratulations to Tappers, based in West Bloomfield, MI, for both the opening of their third store at the tony Somerset Collection mall in nearby Troy, MI, and some excellent nationwide coverage! http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2010-11-05-retailspend05_CV_N.htm
Last month, The Centurion discussed what a rising gold price means to jewelers. It’s now climbed above $1,400 an ounce, but still well below the 1980 price (in inflation-adjusted dollars.) That would be about $2,200. Here’s Carla Fried’s take on it, from CBS’s Moneywatch.com. http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/blog/daily-money/6-things-to-know-about-gold-now/1541/?tag=main-edit;main-edit-river
Retailers have increased holiday inventory by an average of 2.8% over last year, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. With signs that consumers are more willing to open their wallets, retailers want to have enough of an assortment to entice them to buy. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20101109-717001.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
Does your brand need to be updated or revitalized? If so, this video series from American Express, features small business brand makeovers. The series includes 3 parts: effective advertising, redesigning packaging, and luxury branding. http://www.openforum.com/projectrebrand
How quickly technology moves: many of the products now being rendered obsolete by the smartphone didn’t even exist 15 years ago. Note the comment about luxury wristwatches, however—they’re being worn for fashion rather than function, according to this article. Haven’t we been saying as much? http://247wallst.com/2010/11/11/the-ten-businesses-the-smartphone-has-destroyed/
Here’s a tidbit just for a good chuckle. Raise your hand if you know people who speak this way! (Or should that be “upload” your hand?) http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/consumer-reporter/just-so-you-know-the-latest-greatest-in-office-jargon/590/