115 UP AND COMING QUAYSTONES T: +44 (0)7980 467 055 E: info@quaystones.com www.quaystones.com jewellery they would wear. The shell jewellery seems to be on trend but then shells have fascinated us since man first walked on sand. I have a huge shell collection, mostly inherited as my mother always displayed her jewellery over shells at trade shows. But mostly my designs come from listening and asking questions. My customers sometimes make requests or suggestions and often a commission will spark off a whole host of design ideas. What sets you apart from your competitors? I hope that quality sets my jewellery apart. Each piece feels solid and is finished by hand in my Berwick workshop. I use findings sourced in the UK and where space allows each item is individually hallmarked. The new branded packaging has a luxurious feel and silver care instructions have been added to assist the customer. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? The global situation over the past two years has been challenging, especially for a fledgling business, and likely to continue with the rise in prices due to political instability. There will always be challenges, its part of human nature, but folks will still have birthdays, anniversaries and want to treat themselves and others to nice things. I am an optimist. How do you view the future of independent retail post-pandemic? When we first came to Berwick on holiday in 2017 there was a very run-down high street and a few nice boutique shops in the side streets. In the years since we moved here, we have seen many new shops and galleries open in the town. Cafe’s and pubs have diversified into selling local food produce and delicatessen. Dog grooming parlours have become bookshops. This month there are shop fitters working in three high street properties. The shops selling niche, unusual and high-quality gifts are still going despite lockdown. Many have diversified into online sales and embrace social media. I hope that this trend is happening elsewhere but in the Borders independent retail is going strong. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? I post on social media and have a website but digital marketing is still very much a learning curve for me. Currently my focus is to start small, find customers in retail and galleries rather than attract the interest of the general public. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? Listen to your customers, especially established businesses, take on board their advice. You don’t have to follow it but their retail experience can be a very useful tool and sometimes it sparks a brainwave. What can we expect in the future from the company? This year I have started to play with colour. I have raided my hoard of beads and semiprecious stones to produce some limited edition/one-off gallery pieces and experiments with enamels are ongoing. I hope to add enamelled jewellery to the collection very soon. And finally… The website is still evolving, many new designs are being shown at BCTF and some products, like the jewellery sets, are being kept exclusively for retail customers. I hope to produce a digital catalogue for trade customers – when I get five minutes.
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