“Over the past two years, I suppose the changing face of our consumers and their buying habits is one thing that continues to be difficult for so much of impartial jewellers,” Zarb advised Jeweller in March. COVID-19 accelerated another key development within the retail sector, which is the shift to e-commerce. According to figures from Australia Post, 12 per cent of Australian retail gross sales took place online in March 2020 – a model new record high. “Together with our specialist jewellery store hire consultants we helped over 200 members obtain substantial hire reductions,” Pocklington mentioned.

After a soft launch …