24 kt gold created in a lab

To put it lightly, something sensational happens upon feeding large concentrations of toxic gold chloride (also known as liquid gold) to the bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans. After about a week’s time, the bacterium creates a 24-karat gold nugget from the digested toxins. “Microbial alchemy is what we’re doing, transforming gold from something that has no value into a…

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The weak get weaker and the stronger get stronger

This is a saying as old as the hills, but it is true, and it is becoming evident that this certainly pertains to the retail world. So many of the retailers we took for granted are going under. CreditRiskMonitor has yielded 28 retailers with significant bankruptcy risk. JCrew, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Chewy, Rite Aid, Pier…

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Retail nosedives

Forever 21 is filing for bankruptcy, sort of a bursting of the fashion bubble. It is closing over 350 stores worldwide. This is a store with trendy cheap merchandise made to look like coveted designer apparel. One feel of the clothing and that tells the whole story. Even the younger generation has well tossed a…

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Brief history of Birthstones

The first century Jewish historian Josephus believed there was a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve signs of the Zodiac and the twelve months of the years. Translations and interpretations of the passage in Exodus regarding the breastplate have varied widely, with Josephus himself giving two different lists for the twelve stones. George…

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Martin Katz, jewelry for the Emmys

The vault at Saks Fifth Avenue the department store’s wildly luxe, basement-level fine jewelry bonanza. One of the many prestigious names that comprise this glittering tableau is Beverly Hills, Calif.–based couture jewelry designer, Martin Katz.  Well known for his innumerable celebrity clients and longtime dominance on awards show red carpets, Katz’s Saks presence encompasses a curated boutique collection…

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Store closings abound and fast and free shipping

When Amazon started its prime shipping in 2005 that started a trend in shipping expectations from other retail merchants. 43 percent of those who shop online check out shipping charges and base many times base their purchases on what’s fast and free. The holidays are right around the corner and customers will be looking for…

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End of the week retail news

Apparently you don’t have to be perfect at what you do to get the job done. Three men entered a store in the diamond district in New York and got away with $4 million in jewelry. Three men posing as customers robbed New York City jewelry store Avianne & Co. Sunday after bringing employees into the back room and binding them…

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Weather really can be responsible for brick and mortar stores breakdown

Retailers are notorious for blaming the weather when things go south for their business. But the truth is it can affect sales big time. When you have an unnaturally cold Spring, summer clothing sales will not flourish but a natural disaster such as a hurricane can spell disaster for suppliers, buyers and the business as…

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