Historic Headlines:
Pandora drops 100 stores
After a difficult 12 months where it saw weak international sales, Pandora has announced the closure of another 100 accounts in Australia and New Zealand.
There is an element of déjà vu about the start of the new year for the Australian and New Zealand jewellery industries following Pandora announcing it will close around 100 wholesale accounts by the end of March.
Pandora Australia President Karin Adcock announced the decision via email and letter to all Pandora retailers this morning, saying Pandora was looking to continue to grow its brand and needed to change its distribution strategy to do so.
Sound familiar? It should, because just short of 12 months ago Pandora made a similar announcement, saying it would be closing 100 accounts in an attempt to have greater control over the retail experience of the customers buying their product.
Glamorous launch for new Thomas Sabo jewellery range
A handful of special guests were on hand to welcome Thomas Sabo’s new jewellery range to Australia.
Last month local and international stars were adorned in a variety of different pieces from the German fashion jeweller’s latest collection, ‘Glam and Soul.’
The Polo Lounge at Sydney’s Oxford Hotel played host to the likes of David Campbell, Axle Whitehead and Elizabeth Hurley while Thomas Sabo’s international representative, Hanny Freund, made the trip to Sydney to launch the new collection.
Millions stolen at global jewellery shows
Two men were arrested for selling counterfeit jewellery at a US jewellery show while another exhibitor was robbed of nearly $US1 million in inventory.
Federal agents arrested two men and seized approximately $US1 million (AUD$935,000) in counterfeit jewellery after receiving an anonymous tip from Homeland Security Investigations at the US Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers Show in Tucson, Arizona last week.
The two men, vendors at the Tucson show, were charged with selling an estimated USD$1 million in replicated goods from companies including Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Gucci and Hermes.
Ex-Pandora man to launch ‘clicks & mortar’ stores
Jeff Burnes, previously of Pandora Jewellery, will launch the first of 12 innovative jewellery stores this May. The new retailing concept will rely on world leading POS technology
Pandora Jewellery's former head of marketing and communications has formed Status (STA+US), a new concept store stocking a variety of international jewellery and watch brands including Guess, Skagen, Armani, Marc Jacobs, Diesel, and Thomas Sabo.
Burnes identified the need to bridge the gap between bricks and clicks retailing and believes the new physical retailing concept can capitalise on the growing number of online shoppers and connect the two in a unique, multi-channel environment.
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