33 COMPANY PROFILE stable of more classical styles and stock products which are traditional at heart (with a contemporary interpretation where possible). An example of this has been the popularity of quatrefoil,: a shape based on a centuries-old aesthetic but reinterpreted for the modern market. Great design never goes out of fashion! What sets you apart from your competitors? Being unbranded, having strong profit potential for traders, a very wide range of products and being strictly businessto-business. Our B2B mode of operation means we never sell direct to consumers and are never competing against our customers. What are some stand-out moments since the company launch? Our firsts of everything: our first showroom, our first website (which changed the way traders work), becoming RJC registered. We were even one of the first jewellery wholesalers to have catalogues! How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? Business has changed a lot with the prices of precious metal being so high and, of course, the constant fluctuation. We are aware that the retail market is less buoyant than usual. However, because we offer quality products with high profit potential, our sales remain steady. People are perhaps a little less adventurous, which may explain the popularity of the more traditional symbols such as hearts. How do you view the future of independent retail? It is entirely dependent on footfall. Encouraging people to come into stores for that full, enjoyable shopping experience is more essential than ever. Retailers must make themselves part of their communities to guarantee repeat business. For online retailers, there seems to be no slowing down, especially if they embrace new technology. The brickand-mortar shops need to consider establishing a digital presence as well.
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