JBN Congress: Retail Panel to Offer Insight into Bricks and Mortar Bravery
25 May 2022
The upcoming JET Business Network (JBN) Retail Jewellers’ Congress, due to be held at the NAJ Summit on Monday, June 13, 2022, will welcome a small group of JBN member retailers to the stage to discuss their own personal investments into bricks and mortar at a time when vacant units, declining footfall and the impact of the pandemic are challenging the High Street.
Discover the NAJ Summit 2022
For these retailers, as well as many others across the UK, the last two years have been a time of investment and taking bold leaps with their bricks and mortar boutiques. The aim of the Retail Panel at the Retail Jewellers’ Congress will be to share information in a trusted setting and provide other JBN members with the advice, ideas and inspiration they may need to develop their own businesses.
Michael Donaldson, JBN facilitator and organiser of the Retail Jewellers’ Congress, explains:
“Many would think, and some might say, it’s madness to have made a significant investment in bricks and mortar stores in these times of vacant units, declining footfall, increased online shopping, declining jewellery purchases, and during a global pandemic. Yet three JBN members did just that! In this session, we will hear about their personal journeys from concept to completion.”
Drawing on the Q&A interviews we have recently posted with Fitzgerald Jewellers, Aleks Jewellers and Jacobs the Jewellers in Canterbury, Norwich and Reading, respectively, here are some top tips for business owners considering forging ahead with a High Street overhaul in 2022 and beyond.
“My one piece of advice to anyone considering investing in their store presence would be to find a company with experience in the type of shopfitting you wish to have done. The company we used took all the stress out of the project,”
Adrian Phillips, owner and managing director of Aleks Jewellers.
“My biggest piece of advice would be to prepare to spend more than you set out to spend. Sure, you can create incredible spaces with little money – we did just that back in 2017 when we revamped our original store. However, there will always be something unexpected. Whether that’s damp behind original wallpaper or a small idea that develops into something more expensive. Have a safety net of cash that you can dip into if you need it. It will take away that inevitable worry when the unexpected happens,”
Olivia Stewart-Stead, manager at Fitzgerald Jewellers.
“Plan, plan, plan. I often get laughed at by the team for my plans (amongst other things) but having a thought out, discussed and prepared idea followed by execution really works. We also used nearly all local tradespeople who were invested in doing a great job. I also think it needs to tie in with digital presence in terms of colour, feel and identity. We try to marry all these facets up,”
Adam Jacobs, partner at Jacobs the Jewellers.
NAJ members can delve into our Better Business resource for further information about growth and strategy and planning. Here, we focus on the five steps of the strategic planning process and here we explain the SMART process for smashing your sales targets.
The JET Business Network (JBN) has been delivering value through shared knowledge, experience, and expertise since 2005. The network continues to be successful in promoting business growth for all members by providing a unique opportunity for independent jewellery retail owners and directors to meet with like-minded professionals in a confidential forum that fosters supportive and trusting relationships.
Further speakers at the Retail Jewellers’ Congress 2022 have been announced, including Lucy Barkas, who discusses the importance of a multi-generational workplace here.
Taking place across an extended weekend from June 10-13, 2022, the NAJ Summit is an unmissable experience in the jewellery tradeshow calendar. The event’s schedule includes the three-day Valuers’ Conference, hosted by the Institute of Registered Valuers (IRV); a one-day Supplier Showcase; the NAJ Members’ Gala Dinner and The NAJ Awards 2022; the JET Business Network’s Retail Jewellers’ Congress, and a series of Better Business seminars and workshops.
Find out more about joining the JET Business Network, here.
The NAJ Summit will take place from June 10-13, 2022. Download the Event Guide to see what’s on.
Read the Aleks Jewellers Q&A
Read the Fitzgerald Jewellers Q&A
Read the Jacobs the Jewellers Q&A
Source: National Association of Jewellers