The following stories are from VMSD, INSTORE’s sister publication for retail store design and visual merchandising professionals. Visit VMSD.com or subscribe here.
H&M Opens Beverly Hills Concept Store With “Pre-Loved” Shop
H&M’s first Beverly Hills location spans 5,000 square feet inside a historic Art Deco building, featuring fashion-forward womenswear and H&M Pre-Loved — the brand’s curated secondhand offering. Beverly Hills joins H&M concept stores in Chelsea, Stockholm, Paris and Seoul, each designed to reflect local neighborhood culture. Read more.
Belk Debuts Smaller-Format “Market” Stores in Florida and Texas
Belk opens its new Market concept December 13 in Wesley Chapel, FL, and Frisco, TX, featuring smaller footprints with “carefully curated” national and private label brands plus products unique to each community. The concept signals Belk’s shift toward localized, right-sized retail. Read more.
VMSD Seeks Holiday Window Submissions for Gene Moore Award
VMSD’s annual Holiday Windows Recap returns for the Jan/Feb 2026 issue. The contest showcases displays from major retailers like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue alongside independent stores worldwide. Submissions due December 31. Read more.
Urban Outfitters Launches Holiday Pop-Ups: Igloo Lounge and Bounce House
Urban Outfitters opened a part-igloo, part-sand-castle lounge at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where travelers can play games and build wishlists. In New York, the brand debuts a Nike puffer-themed bounce house December 5-6. “The holidays come with enough pressure,” says Head of Brand Marketing Cyntia Leo. “Our goal is to make things feel easier and spark real moments of joy.” Read more.
J.Jill Appoints First-Ever Chief Growth Officer
J.Jill hired Viv Rettke as Chief Growth Officer — a newly created role focused on accelerating sales across the 200-store chain. Rettke previously led growth strategies at Cole Haan, Reebok and Kraft Heinz. She’ll oversee direct-channel performance, align brand and marketing strategy, and lead AI initiatives. Read more.
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Takeaways for Jewelers From This Week’s Wrap-Up
Here are a few actionable takeaways for jewelry retailers based on this week’s headlines:
- “Pre-loved” beats “used.” H&M is selling secondhand jewelry and fashion under the “pre-loved” banner. If you’re selling second-hand jewelry that’s not quite old enough to be called “vintage”, “pre-loved” is a solid backup choice.
- Think local — always. More and more national brands, like Belk’s are instructing individual branches tailor to local markets. Belk’s new stores carry products unique to each community. You actually are local — so why are you stocking the same brands as every other jeweler in America?
- Got a great window? Prove it. VMSD’s Holiday Windows contest tests you against Bergdorf Goodman and Saks. If you’re proud of your display, submit it by December 31 and see how you stack up.
- Create a pop-up focused on fun. Urban Outfitters is building a bounce house in New York for the holidays. Could you do something at the local lifestyle mall? Customers will definitely notice — especially parents with young kids.
- Hire a Chief Growth Officer. J.Jill created the role to focus on one mission: growth. If your business is stuck with unsatisfactory profitability, why not appoint someone (or yourself) as CGO and make “growth” the entire job description?
Exceeding Every Expectation: How Wilkerson Helped d’Original Jewelers Achieve an Outstanding Retirement Sale
When David Rees decided to retire after 34 years of serving Bellevue, Washington’s Eastside, he and his wife knew their exit from d’Original Jewelers needed to honor their decades-long commitment to customers while meeting their financial goals. Since opening in 1990, David had built a reputation as one of the area’s most trusted names for diamonds, custom jewelry, and repairs.
Understanding that a successful retirement sale requires more than just discounting merchandise, David chose Wilkerson to manage his transition. What impressed him most was their attention to detail, particularly in accounting and sales projections. The results far exceeded his expectations — the sale significantly outperformed projections, delivering exceptional financial results that surpassed his retirement goals.
“They were always there for support. If we needed anything, they were able to accomplish that,” David shares. For jewelers contemplating retirement, David’s experience demonstrates Wilkerson’s proven ability to deliver outstanding results while providing comprehensive support throughout the entire process. His recommendation? “100% yes.”
