Valentine’s Day Jewelry Sales Reports Mixed
February 19, 08 After such a dismal holiday season in terms of sales, many jewelry retailers may have been looking to Valentine’s Day – the second most important holiday in the area of jewelry sales in the U.S. – to make up for some of the winter retail blues.
In diverse locations around the world, men and women took the opportunity to reach for their wallets and buy something special for that special someone. According to Paymark, an electronic funds transfer and point of sale service provider in
This was the highest spending increase category – over gift store sales (14 percent), bookshops (17 percent), restaurants and cafes (29 percent), motels (40 percent) and travel companies (15 percent). Specific spending figures were not provided.
Jewelers in
“I expected it to be mediocre, but I was really surprised,” said Jeff McKeegan, owner of Marshalls Jewelers in downtown
McKeegan explained that, although he stocked high-end silver jewelry as an option for customers smarting from high energy prices and a faltering economy, (and now the skyrocketing precious metals prices), gold jewelry sales remained strong.
K-Jon’s Fine Jewelers General Manager Ric Haley also commented and said that he sees more people waiting to see what will happen with regard to precious metals prices and the overall economy. “Every precious metal has gone up. People are sitting on the fence longer and waiting to see what happens before buying.”
The Texarkana Gazette showcased jewelers in
Popular items for the jeweler this year include pave settings, white gold and princess cut diamonds. Colored diamonds and gemstones have also shown strength, and, of course, heart-shaped engagement rings are also selling in this period.
Finally, Robuck Jewelers owner James Robuck said that, while Valentine’s Day was “really great” for his business this year, not all retail jewelers could say the same. “The traveling salespeople that come through tell me that a lot of jewelry stores in the area and around the country have not been this fortunate,” Robuck told KSNT, a local