EDITOR’S LETTER
CONTRIBUTORS
Renewed vigour
CONTRIBUTORS
SIMON WILSON
Simon is an ex-
police officer and
the founder of
security company
StoneHawk.
StoneHawk offers
smash-and-grab
training to the
jewellery trade
JORIE GRASSIE
Scottish-based
Jorie Grassie is the
founder of Jorie
Jewellery, using
deer tusks to make
her jewellery. The
company officially
launched in 2016
BEN FOSTER
Ben is a the
managing
director of SEO
Works, which
is a UK-based
search marketing
specialist
company working
to help companies
reach their online
potential
LEONARD ZELL
Leonard has
been training fine
jewellers for 25
years. His monthly
column gives
some top tips on
sales training and
improving your
bottom line
ON THE
COVER
We at Jewellery Focus have seen some
encouraging signs for what 2018 might bring,
as we have compiled our reports on various
brands in recent months. In no particular order,
Birmingham-based Deakin & Francis opened a
new flagship store in London’s Piccadilly arcade;
Henryka unveiled a new design for its Hereford
boutique as it announced record numbers of
doors for its collections and a 52% increase in sales; Tessa Packard
launched her first London showroom; Vashi opened a third retail outlet
in Westfield London; Watchfinder & Co opened a seventh store in Brent
Cross; and in a twist, online retailers are opening growing numbers
of ‘showroom stores’ in physical premises as the rate of internet sales
growth is forecast to slow in the coming years.
This is why even when there are headwinds, a new year should
be treated as having the potential for new opportunities, growth,
a turnaround if it is needed. There are rumblings in the economic
commentary world that 2018 could be a boom year across the globe.
The UK may face some specific challenges (I won’t spell out the B word
and do not wish to use this column to cast any aspersions on it), but
there is every reason to suspect, given that the CBI and ONS both agree
the British High Street has shown growth across the broad average of
2017, that this year could hold some progress in store for us all.
I hope you enjoyed the festive season and that 2018 is a year of true
prosperity for you all.
MICHAEL NORTHCOTT
Editor, Jewellery Focus
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ISSN 2046-7265
SELF-DEFENCE
FOR JEWELLERS
StoneHawk's Simon Wilson
explains how retail jewellers
can combat smash-and-grabs
SEO
SIMPLIFIED
Ben Foster shares tips on how to
improve your internet rankings
WHAT THE
INDUSTRY HAS
TO OFFER
TURN RETURNS
INTO SALES
Image courtesy of
Shutterstock
BCU's students gain
an insight into the different
career paths in jewellery
How a friendly face can lead
to an increase in profit
50 44 40
YOUR VIEWS RETAIL FOOTFALL SUPPLIER FOCUS
Jorie Grassie talks about
Jorie Jewellery's growth
January 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk
See how the weathermap is
holding up
The security and insurance
companies servicing the trade
www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk/newswire
JEWELLERY FOCUS
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