< TIME FOR TECH, NOVEMBER 2009, ISSUE NO. 235 >
RETAIL
Heavy Discounting Expected To Lead To 1% Decline In U.S. Holiday Sales
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POLISHED
NCDIA Implements Membership Standards And Compliance Practices
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MINING
Rio Tinto Q3 Yields 2.79 Million Carats
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FOCUS
Time For Tech
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Automatic For The People
When people think of the diamond industry, they usually think of a manual-intensive business; of people hunched over wheels polishing diamonds by hand. There’s no doubt this picture is still a feature of low tech countries where low labor costs outweigh the implementation of automation. It is also true of large diamonds that merit individual care and attention.
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Mazal: It’s A Match
According to a Jewish story, someone asked what God has been doing since he finished creating the world. The answer was that he has been making matches, and that each one was as difficult as parting the Red Sea.
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Clever Technology
Sometimes there’s nothing like new technology for taking the brunt work out of business or for adding an extra element of security to a transaction. Check out some of these clever uses of technology – and get your thinking caps on. There’s definitely room for further innovation.
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When Is it Time To Hang Your Shingle In A Niche Corner?
If you are still wavering on the issue of going online, it might be time to think again. There are too many reasons to have an Internet-presence to let such a good sales opportunity pass you by. Going online doesn’t necessarily mean opening up an online shop, as Alex Shapiro explains.
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All A Twitter About Social Networking
You might think social networking is just for the kids, but if you want to stay ahead in today’s business environment, you just have to Facebook up to the fact that you need to get Twiterring, or risk getting left behind.
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PORTE POINT OF VIEW
Direct Mail Breakthrough: New Technology Tracks Response Rates of Direct Mail in Real Time
John Wanamaker was famous for many things. He invented the department store concept, introduced employee benefits and served as the U.S. Postmaster General.
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OPINION
China on the Rise: Exploding Economy with a Fantastic Future (Part One)
Mainland China’s incredible growth and potential is a melodious counterpoint to the songs of worldwide woe in our industry, as John Pollard discusses in the first of a two-part report.
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SHOW REPORT
Hong Kong Show Elicits Mixed Reactions
If sales at the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair are a reflection of the current state of the global economy, then full recovery is still some way ahead of us. Almost all exhibitors at the show reported a decreased level of sales, and also expressed a certain amount of discontent with the show itself.
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FACETS
Diamonds, Platinum, I Do
Platinum is definitely every bride’s metal of choice for a ring, and now that love of the finer things can be taken quite a few steps further with a platinum wedding gown.
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