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IN MEMORY
Holts Gems
founder Robert
Holt dies at 94
Founder of Holts Gems and father
of Jason Holt, passed away whilst on
holiday in Lanzarote with his family five
days from his 95th birthday.
The founder and a director of Holts
Gems, Robert Holt, has passed away
aged 95 while holidaying with family.
The eponymous fine jewellery store
was established in 1948 by Holt when
he was a pre-war Jewish refugee from
Vienna.
A spokesperson said: “On 11th
January, Mr Robert Acker Holt, founder
of Holts Gems and oldest surviving
member of the London Diamond
Bourse has passed away.
“He was an inspiration to all who
knew him. His charming loving nature
and quiet humour made him one of
the most respected members of the
jewellery trade.
“He was a loving and dedicated
family man to his wife Dorothy,
two sons Jason and Stuart and five
grandchildren. Whilst reaching a grand
age, Mr Holt never grew old. He was
young until the final moment.
“We thank all our customers,
colleagues and friends for the warmth
and loyalty you showed Mr Holt over so
many of his 70 years in business.”
NEWS ANALYSIS
A
new kicked
year signifies
a time
2018
off with
an for
reflection
the refreshing
jewellery and
smash-and-grab
of
ideas
and hotel.
mindsets.
The
Ritz
Paris
It was
a bold
jewellery
hasn’t
move on industry’s
the part year
of the
thieves
been
particularly
unique
or
but ended
up being
fruitless
surprising,
but
there
has
been
endeavour,
with
the
police
some
undeniable
The growth
recovering
all of shifts.
the stolen
of
ecommerce,
internet
goods.
The new
year payment
also
and
reported developments
stability of high
saw the
significant
street
business
has the
shown
retailers
occurring
within
jewellery
continue
flourish
no
industry, to with
WB and
The adapt
Creative
matter
the circumstance.
Jewellery
Group being sold to
Heimerle + Meule and Holts
Gems founder, Robert Holt,
passing away.
February 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk
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BANKS
Jewellers warned
the Darwin £10
note is almost
extinct
From 23:59 on Thursday 1 March 2018 it
will no longer have legal tender status.
The Bank of England has warned that
it will withdraw legal tender status of the
paper £10 note featuring Charles Darwin
at 23:59 on Thursday 1 March 2018.
With six weeks to go, all jewellers
that handle cash need to plan and
prepare for the change.
After the de adline, businesses and
the public no longer have to accept the
Darwin £10 note, which was first issued
in 2000, as payment or in change and
the new polymer note featuring Jane
Austen will be the only £10 note with
legal tender status.
The Bank of England is encouraging
businesses to take the following steps:
Clear out your safes. Start banking
your paper £10s now.
Update your machines. Ensure you
know which cash handling machines
are being operated by your business
and check whether an adaptation is
required with your supplier.
Check your note supply arrangement
with your bank to understand whether
they will continue to accept paper £10
notes after the withdrawal date.
Train your staff. An A4 poster is
available to support staff training
on withdrawal and available to
download or order, free of charge. It
can also be displayed in the shop front
or banking hall.
Manage your customers’
expectations. If you have not been able
to adapt your machines before the note
is withdrawn, have a process in place
so that customers can exchange old
notes if they are dispensed in change.
Some banks and building societies
may accept paper £10 notes after 1 March
2018 but this is at their own discretion.
The Bank of England said it will
continue to exchange Darwin £10 notes
for all time, standard practice for any
Bank of England note which no longer
has legal tender status.
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ECONOMY
December 2017
sees retail sales
slump
The Office for National Statistics
points to increased prices as the
reason for the decrease in customer
spending
The Office for National Statistics
(ONS) has revealed that December
2017 had the weakest retail sales in
over four years.
The quantity of items bought in
December decreased by 1.5% when
compared with the stronger sales in
November 2017.
Although retail sales increased by
1.3% in December compared with the
previous year, this was down from the
1.5% growth rate shown in November.
For the whole of 2017 the quantity
bought in retail sales increased by
only 1.9%, making it the lowest annual
growth since 2013.
The ONS said shopping for
Christmas has “shifted in recent
years” with consumers starting their
purchasing earlier during Black Friday
promotions.
However, internet sales continued
to increase when compared with
previous years, with physical stores
dominating online sales growth in
December.
Rhian Murphy, ONS senior
statistician said: “Retail sales
continued to grow in the last three
months of the year partly due to Black
Friday deals boosting spending.
“Consumers continue to move
Christmas purchases earlier, with
higher spending in November and
lower spending in December than
seen in previous years. However,
the longer-term picture is one of
slowing growth, with increased prices
squeezing people’s spending.
“Over the year the proportion
of internet spending is continuing
to rise, with almost one in every
five pounds spent online by the end
of 2017.”
END: THAT’S ALL. YOU ARE NOW UP TO DATE
JEWELLERY FOCUS
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