U.S. Jewelers Report Double Digit Thanksgiving Weekend Sales Gains

A quarter of the specialty jewelers doubled their sales on Black Friday

(IDEX Online News) – Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend jewelry sales were particularly strong for specialty jewelers who are members of the Leading Jewelers Guild, a U.S.-based group of more than thirty retail jewelers with single or multiple stores across the country.

About 80 percent of the Leading Jewelers Guild members reported sales gains for the 2011 Thanksgiving weekend period versus the same weekend in 2010, with most of the sales increases in the double-digit range.

At least four members reported that their sales were double last year’s levels and one member reported that its sales were five-times higher than last year’s levels.

For Black Friday, more than 85 percent of the Guild members reported that their sales were up solidly, with one-quarter of the group reporting sales gains that were double – or higher – than Black Friday 2010.

Leading Jewelers Guild Executive Director Jimmy West said, “These are some of the best numbers I’ve seen . . . the public is waking up to Black Friday as a jewelry buying day.”

November sales for Leading Jewelers Guild members showed solid gains. Almost 85 percent reported a sales gain and approximately half reported a double-digit sales gain for the month.