Tag: Pandora

  • Pandora Jewelry’s Strategic Expansion: New Regional HQ and Factory to Accelerate Asian Market Growth

    Pandora Jewelry’s Strategic Expansion: New Regional HQ and Factory to Accelerate Asian Market Growth

    Pandora, recognized as the world’s leading jewelry brand in terms of sales volume, has announced its plan to establish a fresh regional headquarters in Singapore. The move forms part of a broader growth strategy designed to strengthen the company’s footprint across Asia.

    Why Singapore?

    Massimo Basei, Pandora’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted several reasons for choosing Singapore for this strategic move. He pointed out that the city-state’s robust business environment, dynamic economy, and strategic positioning within Asia were crucial in making this decision.

    Basei explained, “Singapore’s location, right at the heart of Asia, allows us to extend the right levels of support to markets ranging from Japan and South Korea to India and Southeast Asia.”

    A New Home for Pandora

    The Danish jewelry giant has inked a lease agreement for its new 8,600-square-foot office situated at Asia Square Tower 1 in Marina Bay. The new office is expected to become operational in the near future.

    Pandora has plans to expand its team by recruiting approximately 50 employees across various fields such as branding, marketing, and operations. The hiring process is anticipated to commence soon.

    Basei acknowledged that while Asia is home to some of the world’s largest jewelry markets, it remains relatively under-represented within Pandora’s global business landscape. He stated, “While we have had a presence in Asia, we now aim to intensify our focus on this region.”

    Current Market Position

    At present, the United States stands as Pandora’s most significant market, contributing to 32% of its revenue in the initial nine months of 2025. Other crucial markets are the U.K. (11%), Italy (7%), and Germany (7%).

    However, Pandora has been steadily reducing its operations in China due to flagging sales. Over the course of this year, the company has shut down 59 concept stores in China.

    Production Expansion

    In order to meet the expected increase in demand resulting from its Asian expansion, Pandora has launched a new production facility in Vietnam. The company commenced the construction of a US$150 million manufacturing site in Binh Duong, now a part of Ho Chi Minh City, in May last year. Production at this site is slated to start next year.

    Until now, all of Pandora’s jewelry has been produced at its three facilities in Bangkok and Lamphun, Thailand. The new Vietnam facility is projected to augment Pandora’s production capacity by approximately 50%, enabling the company to manufacture up to 60 million pieces annually. For context, Pandora produced a total of 113 million pieces in 2024.

    Questions & Answers

    Why did Pandora choose Singapore for its new regional headquarters?
    Singapore was selected due to its vibrant business environment, dynamic economy and strategic location in the heart of Asia.

    What is the main aim of Pandora’s expansion in Asia?
    While Pandora has had a presence in Asia, it aims to intensify its focus on the region, which is home to some of the world’s largest jewelry markets.

    How is Pandora planning to meet the increased production demand due to its Asian expansion?
    Pandora has set up a new factory in Vietnam, which will aid in increasing the production capacity by about 50%, enabling the manufacture of up to 60 million pieces annually.

  • Berta De Pablos-barbier Ascends As Pandora’s New President And Ceo: Driving Global Growth And Sustainability

    Berta De Pablos-barbier Ascends As Pandora’s New President And Ceo: Driving Global Growth And Sustainability

    Berta de Pablos-Barbier, currently acting as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Pandora, the well-regarded jewellery brand, has been appointed as the company’s incoming President and CEO, beginning her tenure from March 11.

    She will be filling the shoes of the outgoing leader, Alexander Lacik, who has served at the helm since 2019 and will officially retire following Pandora’s annual meeting.

    De Pablos-Barbier’s association with the Danish brand began last year and she has since then been instrumental in redefining the company’s strategic positioning. Her efforts have transformed Pandora from a brand primarily known for its charms to a full-fledged jewellery brand.

    Industry Experience

    With a career spanning three decades in the luxury and consumer goods sector, de Pablos-Barbier brings with her a wealth of international experience. She has previously enjoyed stints as President and CEO of champagne brands Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, and Mercier under the LVMH umbrella. Additionally, her portfolio includes roles as Chief Growth Officer at Mars Wrigley, CMO at Lacoste, and VP of marketing and communications at Boucheron, a part of the Kering group.

    Peter Ruzicka, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed his confidence in the appointment, stating, “She is a visionary leader with great analytical skills and a perfect mix of experience from top brands across luxury, fashion and fast-moving consumer goods. She is the right person to lead our continued growth, and I am pleased that we can maintain strategic focus and momentum during this smooth and orderly leadership transition.”

    Future Endeavors

    In her new role, de Pablos-Barbier’s mandate will be to fuel the global brand growth, building upon the Phoenix strategy. Additionally, the strengthening of Pandora’s sustainability and innovation agenda will also fall within her remit.

    Questions & Answers

    Who is the incoming President and CEO of Pandora?
    Berta de Pablos-Barbier is poised to be the President and CEO of Pandora, effective from March 11.

    What is one of de Pablos-Barbier’s significant contributions to Pandora?
    De Pablos-Barbier has played a pivotal role in Pandora’s repositioning strategy, which has seen the company evolve from a charm-focused brand to a comprehensive jewellery brand.

    What will be de Pablos-Barbier’s focus in her new role at Pandora?
    In her upcoming role, de Pablos-Barbier will concentrate on accelerating global brand growth, building on the Phoenix strategy, and further strengthening Pandora’s sustainability and innovation agenda.

  • Pandora’s Q2 Report Shows Robust Growth Driven By U.s. Demand And Global Expansion

    Pandora’s Q2 Report Shows Robust Growth Driven By U.s. Demand And Global Expansion

    In the second quarter of this year, Danish jewelry powerhouse Pandora reported strong financial outcomes, bolstered by substantial demand in the United States and continued international expansion.

    Financial Health

    Pandora’s organic revenue experienced an 8% increase year-on-year, driven by a 3% growth in like-for-like (LFL) sales and a 5% contribution from network expansion. The company’s net income experienced a minor rise, amounting to DKK 803 million (approximately US$125 million), a slight increase from DKK 799 million (US$124 million) during the same quarter last year.

    Regional Performance

    Geographically, the United States remained Pandora’s primary growth driver, with an 8% LFL sales boost in Q2. Other regions showed promising results as well: the rest of the world reported a 6% LFL growth, while Europe exhibited a modest 1% growth. Nonetheless, several key European countries such as Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Poland, demonstrated impressive double-digit gains.

    Strategic Growth and Expansion

    In the second quarter of 2025, Pandora expanded its retail footprint, launching a net of 17 concept stores and adding eight Pandora-operated shop-in-shops. This brings the total to 93 concept stores and 87 shop-in-shops globally over the past year.

    Physical retail remains a significant part of Pandora’s strategic focus, although the company is refining its market approach. Between 2024 and 2026, Pandora plans to open 400 to 500 net concept stores. However, the full-year 2025 target has been revised down to 25–50 net openings from the initial forecast of 50–75. This adjustment reflects intensified optimization initiatives in China, where up to 100 store closures are now anticipated, doubling the previous minimum estimate of 50.

    Despite these expected store closures in China, Pandora projects to maintain 3% network-driven organic growth for the year. The company’s plan to inaugurate approximately 25 new Pandora-operated shop-in-shops this year remains unchanged.

    Enhancing Customer Experience and Brand Identity

    One significant highlight of the quarter was the opening of Pandora’s second global flagship store on the Las Vegas Strip. With a target of transforming up to 1425 stores by the end of 2026, Pandora aims to enhance both customer experience and brand visual identity significantly.

    Later this year, Pandora plans to launch two new charm collections, Pandora Talisman and Minis, targeting younger, value-conscious shoppers. Additionally, the company aims to sustain momentum around its ‘Be Love’ campaign, emphasizing localized storytelling and influencer activations in crucial markets.

    Addressing Challenges

    Pandora also recognizes the increasing cost pressures related to tariffs, particularly in the United States. Import duties on goods from Thailand, China, Vietnam, and India are expected to cost the company DKK 200 million (US$31 million) in FY25, potentially rising to as much as DKK 450 million (US$70 million) annually by FY26.

    Questions & Answers

    What drove Pandora’s growth in the second quarter?
    Pandora’s growth in the second quarter was driven by robust demand in the United States and continued international expansion.

    What are Pandora’s plans for physical retail expansion?
    Pandora plans to open 400 to 500 net concept stores between 2024 and 2026. However, due to optimization efforts in China, the company has revised down its full-year 2025 target to 25–50 net openings.

    What are some of the challenges Pandora currently faces?
    Pandora is facing increasing tariff-related cost pressures, particularly in the United States, where import duties on goods from several countries are projected to cost the company up to DKK 450 million (US$70 million) annually by FY26.

  • Pandora Eyes Strategic Overhaul Amid Falling Sales In China: A Turnaround In Sight?

    Pandora Eyes Strategic Overhaul Amid Falling Sales In China: A Turnaround In Sight?

    Pandora, the Denmark-based jewellery manufacturer known for its charm bracelets, is considering a strategic overhaul of its operations in China due to a sustained downturn in sales, according to insider sources. These measures may include licensing its brand and assets, including its current inventory, to China-based funds and e-commerce partners for a five-year period.

    Pandora, like many other multinational consumer-focused companies operating in the world’s second-largest economy behind the United States, has been negatively impacted by the aftermath of the global pandemic and a property crisis that has sent shockwaves through the economy. The company has struggled to compete with local, tech-savvy brands in the crowded e-commerce sector and has also been affected by a consumer trend towards gold and high-value jewellery.

    Addressing Challenges

    In a statement, Pandora acknowledged its need to reposition its brand in the increasingly challenging Chinese market and confirmed its commitment to implementing a turnaround strategy. “While this process will undoubtedly take time, China represents the world’s largest jewellery market and we remain completely dedicated to our business operations there,” commented Pandora.

    Over the past five years, Pandora’s revenue in China has plummeted nearly 80%, dropping to 416 million Danish crowns (approximately US$65.10 million) in 2024, down from 1.97 billion crowns in 2019. The company’s contribution from its China operations has also significantly reduced, falling from 11% to around 1% during the same period.

    Leadership Changes and Future Plans

    There have been several leadership changes within Pandora’s China operations since 2022, with the current Managing Director, Thomas Knudsen, joining the company at the beginning of this year. Shortly after his appointment, Pandora announced plans to shut down 50 stores in China later this year.

    There may be challenges in finding an investor or a licensing partner given the downward trends in performance and broader consumer challenges, according to Jonathan Yan, a principal at a leading consultancy firm in Shanghai. Yan stated that financial investors may not be interested in the asset, while e-commerce partners interested in owning higher-margin brands may be potential candidates.

    Speculations and Expectations

    Pandora’s e-commerce division has faced a steeper decline in sales than its physical stores, an insider revealed. Therefore, a takeover by an operator with the know-how to compete in the Chinese e-commerce market could be a positive development, although the cost of any turnaround would be significant to whoever assumes responsibility for the company’s operations.

    Yan commented, “Any successful turnaround will necessitate significant investment and the introduction of highly innovative strategies, and even then, success is far from guaranteed.”

    Questions & Answers

    What potential measures is Pandora considering for its Chinese operations?
    Pandora is reportedly contemplating licensing its brand and assets to China-based funds and e-commerce partners for a five-year period.

    How has Pandora’s revenue in China changed over the past five years?
    From 2019 to 2024, Pandora’s revenue in China has fallen nearly 80%, from 1.97 billion Danish crowns to 416 million Danish crowns.

    What challenges does Pandora face in turning around its operations in China?
    Pandora faces competition from local, tech-savvy brands, a shift in consumer preferences toward gold and high-value jewellery, and the broader economic impact of the global pandemic and property crisis.

  • Pandora and Amazon Join Forces to Dismantle Major Counterfeit Jewelry Network in China

    Pandora and Amazon Join Forces to Dismantle Major Counterfeit Jewelry Network in China

    Pandora has made significant strides in the battle against counterfeit jewelry, successfully collaborating with Amazon to dismantle a sprawling network of fake products across Europe. This initiative culminated in a criminal conviction in China, marking a pivotal achievement for both companies in their commitment to combating counterfeiting.

    Investigation Sparks Action

    The investigation commenced in 2020 when Pandora’s Intellectual Property and Brand Protection team detected suspicious customs seizures. By partnering with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit, they traced these counterfeit activities back to two China-based sellers orchestrating a large-scale operation.

    Raids and Convictions

    In a decisive move, Chinese authorities, with support from both Pandora and Amazon, conducted a raid that led to the seizure of thousands of counterfeit items. The two sellers were subsequently sentenced by a Shanghai court in March 2025 to five years in prison, accompanied by hefty fines. Justice, it seems, is best served with a side of bling.

    Remarkable Market Impact

    In 2024 alone, Pandora facilitated the removal of over 500,000 online listings touting fake products, a remarkable 215% increase from the previous year, fueled by the utilization of AI tools. The company also played a vital role in the global seizure of approximately 100,000 counterfeit items, a testament to its proactive approach in safeguarding its brand.

    Pandora’s Retail Strategy

    While Pandora does not sell its products on Amazon, it collaborates with the platform to eradicate the circulation of counterfeit goods. With a presence in over 2,700 stores worldwide and sales through its official website, pandora.net, the company remains dedicated to upholding brand integrity.

    Addressing a Global Challenge

    Counterfeiting poses an ongoing challenge worldwide, with the OECD estimating that fake goods represent a staggering 2.3% of global trade. In response, Pandora has pledged to continue its investments in enforcement and strategic partnerships to protect its brand and the interests of its customers.

    Questions & Answers

    What prompted the investigation into counterfeit Pandora products?
    The investigation was sparked by suspicious customs seizures identified by Pandora’s IP & Brand Protection team in 2020, leading to a collaboration with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit.

    What were the outcomes of the raid conducted in China?
    The raid resulted in the seizure of thousands of counterfeit items, and the two sellers involved were sentenced to five years in prison along with significant fines.

    How has Pandora’s approach to combating counterfeiting evolved in recent years?
    Pandora has significantly increased its efforts by leveraging AI tools, leading to the removal of over 500,000 fake product listings in 2024, and is committed to ongoing investment in brand protection.

  • Pandora support now available on Apple’s HomePod

    Pandora support now available on Apple’s HomePod

    It’s no surprise that Pandora integration is now available on the HomePod, as Apple announced last month it will bring support for the music streaming service to both its smart speakers. However, at that time, the Cupertino giant didn’t mention when exactly Pandora integration for HomePod will arrive, so the fact that it’s now available is what’s really important.

    Although we’re still a few weeks away from the HomePod Mini’s market launch, Apple decided to make Pandora integration available to HomePod users before Mini’s release. When HomePod Mini launches later this month, it will be fully compatible with Pandora integration. Until then, HomePod users can start taking advantage of the new features by following the steps described below:

    • Download the latest version of Pandora’s iOS app
    • Open the Pandora app on your iOS device
    • Select Profile > Settings (gear icon) > “Connect with HomePod” > “Use in Home”

    Once the steps above are completed, you’ll be able to use your voice to control Pandora on your Apple HomePod. You can start asking Siri to play your favorite tunes and customize your listening experience without having to use your hands.

  • Pandora switches to 100 per cent recycled gold and silver

    Pandora switches to 100 per cent recycled gold and silver

    Pandora has shifted to using recycled silver and gold for all of its jewelry, a move it said will avoid significant greenhouse gas emissions.

    The new strategy aims to reduce 58,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. According to the company, the carbon footprint of recycled silver is one-third compared to mined silver, while recycling gold emits less than 1 per cent of the carbon emissions from mining new gold.

    The target was previously set for 2025, but has been achieved early thanks to the strong commitment from the firm’s suppliers.

    Suppliers have had to switch their operations to only source materials that are certified recycled according to the Responsible Jewelry Council Chain of Custody.

    Pandora currently produces its jewelry with 97 per cent recycled silver and gold and is expected to increase to 100 per cent from this year’s second half.

    “Precious metals can be recycled forever without any loss of quality. Silver originally mined centuries ago is just as good as new, and improved recycling can significantly reduce the climate footprint of the jewelry industry,” said CEO Alexander Lacik.

    The Copenhagen-based company sells its products in more than 100 countries through more than 6500 points of sale, including some 2500 concept stores.

  • Danish jewelry maker Pandora to build $163M crafting facility in Vietnam

    Danish jewelry maker Pandora to build $163M crafting facility in Vietnam

    Denmark’s Pandora will start work on a jewelry crafting facility in Vietnam in the first quarter next year at a cost of US$163 million.

    The facility, in the southern industrial hub of Binh Duong, is scheduled to become operational in 2026, Michael Zinck Jensen, project head of Pandora Production Holding in Binh Duong, told Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung Monday.

    It will come up in the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park and employ 7,000-9,000 workers.

    But it is having difficulty acquiring construction permits, and he expected the Ministry of Construction to speed up the process, Jensen said.

    Dung said he has tasked a unit with assisting the company to complete all paperwork.

    Pandora sells its jewelry in over 100 countries and reported revenues of $3.76 billion last year.

    It has 15 stores in Vietnam, mostly in malls in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    Another Danish giant, Lego, began building a $1 billion toy factory in Binh Duong in the last quarter of last year.

    The first made-in-Vietnam Lego bricks are set to be launched in the second half of next year.

  • Fitbit drops support for two music streaming services on Sense and Versa smartwatches

    Fitbit drops support for two music streaming services on Sense and Versa smartwatches

    Google-owned Fitbit is informing many of its customers that it will soon stop supporting two music streaming services quite popular in the United States: Deezer and Pandora. In an email sent to many Fitbit smartwatch users, the company states that it will ax support for the two apps, which will no longer be available for download.

    The email confirms that come March 31, these two music streaming services will no longer function on specific smartwatches like Fitbit Sense, Fitbit Versa 2 and Fitbit Versa 3. According to the email, customers “will no longer be able to download Pandora stations or add Deezer playlists to your device, nor will you be able to play anything that you have previously downloaded.”

    This is the second time Fitbit has taken away an important functionality from its customers in less than a year. Last year, Fitbit removed the ability to sync and transfer music via PC and Mac. The company removed the option to transfer playlists to Fitbit watches through a computer back in October but allowed users to continue to play personal music stored on the watch and transfer music to it with the Deezer and Pandora apps.

    Well, Fitbit took away that option as well, or at least is about to since the deadline is March 31, 2023. It’s surprising that the company is removing important features that will most likely lead to fewer sales, without adding new ones to replace them. It’s like Fitbit wants to make its smartwatches completely unappealing to those who love using this type of products.

    It remains to be seen how Fitbit’s actions will impact the sale of its smartwatches, but there’s bound to be some retribution from customers, especially from those who remained loyal even after Google bought the company Google.

  • Pandora Thailand distributor plans to expand food, and beverage sections

    Pandora Thailand distributor plans to expand food, and beverage sections

    Tanachira Retail Corporation Co, the importer and distributor of lifestyle fashion brands including Harnn, Marimekko and Pandora, is eyeing the acquisition of health lifestyle food & beverage operators to help reduce business risks and sustain the company’s long-term sales growth.

    Tanapong Chirapanidchakul, Tanachira’s chief executive, said the company is exploring opportunities to acquire food and beverage firms and is seeking know-how to support its expansion into the sector.

    “Our overall business suffered a lot from the Covid-19 crisis, with sales in 2021 plunging by 50% from a year before,” said Mr Tanapong. “Whenever the economy is in a bad condition, people generally opt to spend their money on food rather than luxury products, which will be the first items to be cut.”

    According to Mr Tanapong, the company moved into the food and beverage business several weeks ago when it invested 5 million baht to open the world’s first Marimekko pop-up café in Bangkok’s Central Embassy mall.

    The company plans to open two more permanent cafes in the city next year. It expects Marimekko to account for 25% of total sales, up from 16% now, once two more pop-up cafés open next year. There are currently 10 Marimekko lifestyle stores in Thailand.

    According to Mr Tanapong, the company is now looking to expand the Marimekko shop at the Lotte Department Store in Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi this year.

    Tanachira is also scheduled to open a Cath Kidston cafe in CentralWorld in December this year.

    The company aims to have a total of five cafes under the Marimekko and Cath Kidston brands in Thailand next year.

    In addition, Mr Tanapong said the company intends to ramp up its online business this year. Before the pandemic, Cath Kidston was the only brand that sold its products online, but all brands are now available on the internet, contributing 12% of the company’s sales in the first half of this year. The company’s target is for online business to account for 15% of its sales in 2022, and double to 30% over the next three years.

    Moreover, Mr Tanapong said the company plans to open three new Pandora branches this year. The company expects its sales to reach 1.15 billion baht this year and 1.4 billion baht in 2023. Of the total, 50% of sales will come from Pandora, 20% from Marimekko, and the remaining 30% from other brands.

  • Pandora plans $100-mln jewelry plant in Vietnam

    Pandora plans $100-mln jewelry plant in Vietnam

    Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry company by sales, will set up a US$100-million production facility in Vietnam.

    To be situated in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 3 in Binh Duong Province, it will be built to LEED Gold green building standards and powered completely by renewable energy.

    Construction is set to start in early 2023, and production by the end of 2024.

    It will hire more than 6,000 craftspeople and have an annual capacity of 60 million pieces of jewelry.

    This is the company’s third production site and the first outside Thailand.

    “We scouted countries all over the world before deciding on Vietnam and Binh Duong Province,” Jeerasage Puranasamriddhi, the company’s chief supply officer, said.

    Pandora is a Danish jewelry manufacturer and retailer founded in 1982 by Per Enevoldsen.

    It sells its products in over 100 markets, and had revenues of $3.5 billion last year.

  • Pandora names new China GM

    Pandora names new China GM

    Pandora has named former FMCG and beauty industry executive Irving Holmes Wong as general manager for China to lead the Danish jewelry brand’s growth in a “key market”.

    Irving Holmes Wong, who previously held senior management positions at Avon, Bacardi-Martini, Revlon, and L’Oreal, will join Pandora as senior vice president and general manager of the Greater China cluster, reporting to chief commercial officer, Martino Pessina.

    He will be responsible for Pandora’s business in the Greater China region, which employs more than 2,000 people and covers 250 concept stores across mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

    China is the world’s largest jewelry market, and Pandora states the region has “significant growth opportunities”. As part of its Phoenix strategy, Pandora has set a long-term target to triple the Chinese business versus 2019 and laid out a two-phase plan to achieve the growth. In the first phase, Pandora will solidify the brand by establishing the core proposition of collectability, affordability and self-expression, while the second phase will focus on growing Pandora’s store network.

    In 2021, Pandora generated 1.1 billion Danish Krone revenue in mainland China, accounting for approximately 5 percent of the company’s total revenue.

    Commenting on the appointment, Pessina said in a statement: “Irving is a senior executive who has successfully transformed and grown businesses in China and neighbouring markets. He is a strategic brand-builder and brings valuable turnaround and growth-acceleration experience that will help us strengthen our position in Greater China and reach our Phoenix targets.”

    Wong, who will join Pandora on April 7, added: “I feel passionate about reviving the brand in China and leading our coming growth chapter. Pandora’s ambition and strong commitment to the region is very motivating. I find Pandora to be a legacy brand with a clear purpose and story and look very much forward to joining.”

  • Pandora has no plans to join platforms like Amazon or Farfetch

    Pandora has no plans to join platforms like Amazon or Farfetch

    Jewelry maker Pandora would prefer to invest in physical stores or its own online sales platform rather than join large e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon or Farfetch, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

    “If you’re a small and unknown brand, marketplaces offer a great opportunity, because they provide you with an audience. I already have an audience,” CEO Alexander Lacik said during an interview.

    Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry maker by production capacity, has found a niche between cheaper accessories sold by the likes of H&M and more expensive jewelry like that of Tiffany & Co .

    “Eight out of ten women globally are aware of our brand, so I don’t need to make you aware of me. What I need to do is to show you what I’ve got, and I can to this much better if I have a direct relationship with my customer,” he said.

    The $12.3 billion company, headquartered in Copenhagen, has increased investment in e-commerce during the pandemic. It is present on China’s T-mall platform but not on large global platforms like Amazon or Farfetch.

    “Marketplaces always have to make a compromise for all the clients they are serving. I don’t have to compromise,” he said.

    Pandora’s more than 2,600 physical stores remain the core of its business and accounted for 62% of global sales between July and September.

    “Nearly two-thirds of my customers are men buying jewelry for their girlfriends, wives, grandmothers, or children. And we know that men buying jewelry need help,” he said.

  • Pandora jewellery sales top pre-pandemic levels as US shoppers splash out

    Pandora jewellery sales top pre-pandemic levels as US shoppers splash out

    Danish jewelry maker Pandora said on Tuesday that a strong performance in the United States spurred rapid sales growth in the second quarter but sales in China fell. Pandora, which aims to strengthen its brand in the world’s two biggest economies, said its total comparable sales in April-June jumped 7 percent compared to the same quarter of 2019 before the pandemic.

    In the United States quarterly sales more than doubled from a year earlier and were up 63 percent compared to 2019 as massive government stimulus and vaccinations against Covid-19 fuelled spending on goods and services.

    Pandora said it saw indications that it was gaining more market share in the United States, its biggest market, but cautioned that the high growth would come down in the second half of the year.

    “We have dampened the expectations on the US growth versus the first half and then we have raised expectations in Europe when the stores reopen and we are seeing that play out,” Chief Executive Alexander Lacik told Reuters in an interview.

    Pandora’s shares, which have gained around 25 percent this year, fell around 1 percent in early trade.

    “The questions arise for how long growth in the US operation can offset continued weakness elsewhere, and can Pandora stabilize its European operations to coincide with slower US growth?” Handelsbanken said in a research note.

    Sales in China, the world’s largest jewelry market, fell 13 percent in the second quarter compared to 2019.

    “It will take time so this is not a quick fix. The first attempt to try to turn this around is going to happen later this year,” Lacik said, adding that Pandora would announce further details on its brand repositioning in China at its capital markets day in September.

    Pandora earlier this month raised its full-year sales and profit margin forecasts as fewer stores would have to close due to Covid-19 than initially assumed.

    On Tuesday, Pandora also announced a new share buyback programme, the latest European company to repurchase stock in the wake of a strong earnings season.

  • Pandora launches new home screen widget for iPhones and iPads

    Pandora launches new home screen widget for iPhones and iPads

    Pandora is making some interesting changes to its iOS app. If you’re using the streaming service’s app on an iPhone or iPad, you should soon notice a new home screen widget that features many customization options.

    With the latest version of the iOS app, you’ll now be able to choose from 3 sizes of the new Pandora widget, which will allow you to view and play up to 7 of your most recently played songs, albums, stations, playlists, and podcasts directly from the home screen.

    To start customizing your Pandora experience make sure to update the iOS app via the App Store. Then, long-press the home screen and hold until you get the “+” icon displayed. Simply search for Pandora and select one of the three sizes available. When you’re done, tap “Add Widget” and your home widget should be accessible on the fly.

    The new home screen widget for iPhones and iPads requires iOS 14 or newer, but that shouldn’t be a concern for most users.