Jeweller HS and JE Crisson Ltd. has laid off three employees and temporarily closed three of its nine stores to undergo renovations.

The company's vice-president and general manager Susan Millar said the moves were intended to strengthen the position of the retailer for the upcoming tourism season.

Three members of staff, two of them part-time and all of whom were at retirement age, lost their jobs. Additionally, a trainee who was on probation was also not taken on.

The staff who are being kept on from the temporarily closed stores will be assigned to other stores.

Crisson has three stores in Hamilton, at 55 and 71 Front Street, and at 16 Queen Street. It also has two stores in St. George's, as well as one in Dockyard, one at the Elbow Beach Hotel and one in each of the two Fairmont hotels.

"We have temporarily closed Elbow Beach for a month for renovations and it will reopen on February 1," Ms Millar said yesterday.

"We have also closed 71 Front Street for renovations and re-merchandising for the season, which starts on April 1. The same thing applies to our York Street store in St. George's, which hasn't had much tender loving care for some years."

Crisson, the Island's biggest jewellery firm, has been in business since 1922.

Many stores have been feeling the effects of the global economic downturn. And many Front Street stores suffered from the loss of cruise ship visitors in 2008. With the holiday period over, retailers are bracing themselves for an even quieter than normal January.

"Our holiday sales could have been better," Ms Millar said of Crisson's Christmas. "But we are comfortable with what business we pulled in.

"For us, business is going on as usual. We are still bringing in merchandise, though we are going to be conservative going forward."

Ms Millar that the temporary closures for renovations were "nothing to be alarmed about". "It puts us in a strong position for the season ahead," she added.