MONTH IN REVIEW
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Boxing day
footfall falls
for third
consecutive year
Footfall declined by 3.1% on Boxing
Day, the third consecutive year in which
footfall on Boxing Day has been lower
than in the year before according to the
latest figures from Springboard.
Springboard said the fall “indicates
the lessening in importance of Boxing
Day as a trading day”. Over the last few
years footfall on Boxing Day has been
found to be consistently 10% lower
than on Black Friday, with footfall in
2018 reported as 10.7% lower.
Footfall on Boxing Day was also 12%
lower than on 22 December, the “peak”
trading day before Christmas. Part of
the reason for the drop in footfall was
attributed to the “almost continuous”
discounting that has been taking place
by retailers this year - particularly over
the period from Black Friday onwards -
which Springboard added “negates the
reason to defer purchases to Boxing Day”.
The magnitude of decline was less than
in the previous two years, but this was
due to a smaller drop in high street footfall,
which was virtually flat at -0.3% compared
with -6.2% in 2017 and -3.6% in 2016.
Springboard said the data shows
that many consumers who visited retail
destinations on Boxing Day would
have been doing so as part of a “wider
leisure experience”, and the greater
variety of restaurants and coffee shops
in high streets enables shoppers to
make the most of their trips and include
lunch or coffee whilst shopping.
This was said to have been illustrated
by the decline of just -1% in high
street footfall between 12pm and 2pm
compared with -2.8% before 12pm.
Drops in footfall of -4.7% in shopping
centres and -6.5% in retail parks
between 12pm and 2pm meaning
shopping centres and retail parks were
not able to “capture lunchtime footfall so
successfully” according to Springboard.
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JEWELLERY FOCUS
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AUCTIONS EVENTS
Auctioneers Sotheby’s recorded a
‘landmark year’ for jewellery sales in
2018, with worldwide sales totaling
$414m (£328m) for the year. Goldsmith’s Fair has opened
applications for designers to submit
their work for the 37th edition of the
showcase.
Jewellery professionals have until
midnight on 28 February 2019 to submit
their work before The Goldsmiths’ Fair
Selection Committee meet in March
to deliberate applications. Last year,
138 exhibitors took part and more than
8,000 people visited the event.
To apply for the fair Goldsmith’s ask
that applicants must comply to the
following:
n Display only work (each piece) that
includes precious metal(s)
n Represent themselves and not act as
an agent for others
n Live and work in the UK
n Apply with work that has been
designed and made in the UK by the
applicant (if the applicant has used
the specialist techniques of another
tradesman e.g. a spinner/caster/
engraver etc., these must be detailed
on the application form)
n Employ fewer than six people at the
bench
n Must not be in full time education at
the time of application
n Must be available to man their stand
at all times during the Fair
n Intend to exhibit goods that are
compliant with the UK Hallmarking
Act 1973
n Be in agreement with all Terms &
Conditions and Rules & Regulations
(to be provided upon successful
application)
The 2019 Goldsmiths Fair will take
place on 24 September – 6 October 2019.
‘Landmark year’
of jewellery sales
for Sotheby’s
Worldwide watch sales totalled
$88.5m (£70.2m), up 60% on 2017
($55.4m), with 55% of the bids for
watches being placed online (42% for
jewellery sales). The number of jewels
sold online also increased by by 53%
compared with 2017 (+45% in value for
watches).
According to the group 2018 was
also strong year for ‘noble and royal
jewels’, which saw the sale of a natural
pearl and diamond pendant from Marie
Antoinette’s personal Collection for
$36m (£28m).
Additionally, the Farnese Blue
diamond achieved a sale of $6.7m
(£5.3m), well above the estimated $3.6-
5.2m, which was originally given to
Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain, as a
wedding present in 1715.
A statement by the group read: “This
year, Sotheby’s held a series of highly
innovative online sales, often based on
partnerships with some of the world’s
most prominent brands and actors in the
watch, jewellery and diamond industry.
“These sales aimed at offering
exclusive property and experiences to
existing and new collectors. 2019 will
see more of these collaborations and
partnerships.”
Goldsmith’s Fair
2019 opens for
applications
The Dalliance GemAddict is a jewellery watch for customers
who are looking to carry a piece of art , beautifully executed
with the highest level of craftsmanship , on their wrist
Aurélie Picaud, timepieces director, Fabergé
February 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk