Signet Closing All Stores in US, Canada

RAPAPORT... Signet Jewelers is shutting all its stores in North America due to the coronavirus, a company spokesperson confirmed with Rapaport News.The temporary closure goes into effect at the close of business on Sunday, the spokesperson said. It applies to its Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, James Allen, Peoples and Piercing Pagoda store brands.The company will inform customers this weekend via its e-commerce sites, social media and personal phone calls so that they can collect repairs and purchases. Its support team for the region will work from home.Until now, Signet has been making "real-time" decisions about store shutdowns based on assessing the impact of the pandemic at a local level. When it becomes appropriate to reopen stores, it will do so in the same way, it explained.The company operates more than 2,900 stores across the US, and at least 150 in Canada, according to its website. Signet did not comment on the status of its UK stores, which number around 500."Unequivocally, the health and safety of our team members and customers has been and will continue to be a priority," the company noted. Image: A Kay Jewelers store in Bethesda, Maryland. (Shutterstock)