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Blue HPHT Synthetic Diamond Over 10 Carats
In September 2016, GIA’s Hong Kong laboratory tested a 10.08 ct blue synthetic diamond grown by the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) method. This was the largest HPHT synthetic diamond recorded to date. It was also the largest HPHT blue synthetic diamond GIA has...
How to Recycle Old Cell Phones and Why Your Small Business Should
Mobile technology is constantly evolving. And as a result, consumers and businesses are constantly upgrading to new cell phone models. So what should you do with all those old cell phones once you make a change? You don’t have to simply throw them away. There are...
20 Ideas for Earth Day Promotions
Earth Day is just around the corner. And for businesses, the holiday offers some unique promotional opportunities. Whether you sell eco-friendly products in a retail setting or run a service-based business online, there are things you can do to promote your business...
Jade Report: Increased Mining Creates Large Stockpiles
The Chinese retail market has been cooling off, but jade mining in the Kachin province of Myanmar has been on the increase, causing a massive inventory buildup, according to a report by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation of Harvard University. The...
Pawnbrokers Report Decrease in Retail Sales as Online Competition Grows and Buying Trends Shift
The National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) announced today the results of the NPA 2016 Trend Survey. The survey, which was conducted in early 2017, focuses on industry trends as reported by pawnbroker members of the NPA for the 2016 calendar year. One notable survey...
PAWN STARS’ SEASON 14: NOW YOU CAN BUY WHAT IS FEATURED ON THE SHOW
Pawn Stars Season 14 is finally on the air! The most recent episodes of the popular History Channel show began broadcasting on April 10. Pawn Stars may have been around for over 400 episodes now, but it doesn’t mean that they are not introducing some fresh ideas to...
Synthetic Emeralds Grown by Richard Nacken in the Mid-1920s
The early technology for producing gem-quality synthetic emerald has long been a matter of speculation. In particular, the initial methods used for crystal growth by Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft, known as IG Farben, in Germany from 1935...
What Do Small Business Owners Need to Know About the Internet Privacy Repeal?
The House has voted to block Obama Era online privacy regulations for Internet use. The legislation has been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. That leaves the security of small businesses’ online data in a state of limbo where sharing information and...
Billions in drug dealers’ illegal Amazon gold ‘laundered’ through Miami refinery, feds say
In a zeal to hide cocaine profits, South American traffickers have funneled billions of dollars of illegally mined Amazon gold to a Miami metals refinery in what federal authorities say amounts to a massive money-laundering scheme.
US Retailers Continue to Cite ‘Challenging’ Environment, Synthetic Melee Detected
U.S. employment figures continue to rise along with the stock market – and other economic indicators remain strong – but Signet Group’s latest lower results continue to point to a “challenging” retail environment. Signet is the largest jewelry chain in the U.S. and...
What is Return on Kindness and Why is it Important to Your Small Business?
The goal of every small businesses is to generate a return on investment (ROI). This means that if a dollar is put into the company, the owners hope to get $3 or even $100 from it.
Shipping scrap… it’s so easy
Working with your refiner has to be simple. Shipping scrap is easy, simple and it's safe. There are pawnbrokers and Jewelers that have never shipped scrap and they're weary of the process. Will it make it!? Is it insured? How do I get the label? Where do I take it?! ...
10 Hot Trends on Social Media Right Now for Main Street Store Owners
Social media offers a wealth of opportunities for main street store owners. By engaging with existing customers and reaching out to new ones, a small business can significantly enhance and promote its brand and ultimately improve its bottom line by utilizing and...
5 Tips to Choose a Customer Loyalty Program for Small Businesses
Based on the interview and other ideas, we’ve come up with five tips for what to look for when you choose a customer loyalty program. Some of the tips apply as well to choosing a gift card program. Look for these attributes when choosing a loyalty program and/or a...
PPC Pitfalls to Avoid as a Small Business Owner
Online advertising has given businesses of all sizes a chance to compete in the market. Before this tech time, only businesses with big budgets were able to advertise. Small businesses can now promote their products or services with just a small budget, and they are...
How to Deal With High Turnover at Your Store
Turnover is part of life in retailing. After all, this industry tends to attract young employees, part-time workers and others who may see retail as a stepping stone rather than a career path. Still, when turnover is higher than usual, it can leave you struggling. If...
Social Media Content Strategy: 4 Critical Questions for Small Businesses
Over the last 10 years, social networks have evolved into being a necessity for businesses. Every business you know now has Facebook and Twitter pages, and they are all creating content. In the rush to get on board, many small businesses have skipped the intent and...
The Pros and Cons of Selling on Amazon
Syama Meagher, CEO of Scaling Retail, says the brands she works with have plenty to worry about when it comes to Amazon.com. Meagher draws on her experience at Barneys, Macy's and Gucci in her current role as retail strategist, where she has taken on tasks ranging...