IDEX Online Research: U.S. Jewelry Holiday Sales Uneven

(IDEX Online News) – Preliminary Christmas sales reports from U.S. specialty jewelers shows that the holiday selling season from early November through Christmas Eve was uneven, with a rocky two months. 

Here are samples of selected merchants’ comments which represent a broad consensus among independent specialty jewelers:

"One good day was followed by two slow days”

“Traffic steady, about in line with last year”

“Average ticket down; shoppers want lower-priced goods”

“Silver strong”

“Watches strong”

“Saturday December 22 slowest on record”

“Still have plenty of inventory” (comment from December 23)

“Where are the men?” (comment from December 24)

Chain jewelers have reported a more stable selling season, with sales gains generally in the low-to-mid single-digit range.

Diamond jewelry sales were mixed, with some jewelers reporting that shoppers purchased popular-priced fashion diamond jewelry rather than higher-priced fine diamond jewelry. 

IDEX Online Research has forecasted a total U.S. jewelry sales gain of 4 percent for the 2012 holiday selling season, but based on preliminary results, it could be in the range of 2-to-3 percent, with all of the gain coming from inflation. Unit sales will likely be flat, at best.