JET Success: Michelle Waldron

30 Jul 2024

Belinda Morris, editor of The Jeweller, sits down with Michelle Waldron, the December 2023 winner of the Clarity & Success award, highlighting to best JET 1 project of the month.

“My entrance into the world of jewellery and retail started at Michael Lynes jewellers in Witney, Oxfordshire, in November 2022. I’d worked in catering for 20 years and wanted a fresh challenge, a new direction, somewhere I could learn and grow. I saw this job advertised – it was just what I was looking for. After a few months, I was hooked on jewellery and eager to learn as much as I possible.

We’re an independent store with a small staff, so good customer service skills and all staff being proficient in front of house is vital. We all need to be versatile, but each of us has our own area of responsibility. My area is admin – I help with the accounts, organising customer and supplier invoices, reconciling accounts, stock control, adding stock to the system, organising stock taking and reconciling stock takes when complete.

Michael Lynes has coached many of his employees over the years. He suggested I take the JET course as it would benefit me in the job. Knowing little about jewellery, I saw JET as the building blocks to transition into my new career more easily.

I found the research enjoyable – the course content was very insightful – but I most enjoyed working on the gemstones. It opened my eyes to the many stones and their differences. I found it challenging to get my head around some, particularly diamonds, but eventually it became easier, and the diamond part of the final project was my favourite to write. I’m now much more confident when selling gemstones to customers, and tough questions are much less daunting. I can’t wait to learn more.

I wrote about the jewellery designer Alex Monroe because I like his style of design. His pieces I’d choose to wear myself – delicate everyday wear jewellery with inspiration taken from nature. I also like Alex’s business ethos: British-made jewellery using traditional methods to keep the craft going. While all pieces are cast en masse, each is hand finished and unique, which I like.

Coming from a non-retail, non-jewellery background, it was easy to feel out of my depth at the start. Taking the JET course has given me knowledge, increasing my confidence in what I’m doing and making me feel less of an outsider. I can now assist customers much more confidently, give greater customer service and be a stronger member of the team… and be more useful in my role. JET has also helped me to think about the job as a whole and realise it’s not just about selling jewellery, that security, customer service and the design, manufacture and repair of jewellery are also important.

I intend to continue studying and take the JET diploma, as it would benefit me greatly in my job. It will increase my confidence and make me better able to deal with the customers and give them the service they require and expect. I’d like to continue to build my knowledge, so I can grow and continue to enjoy working in the industry for many years to come.”

Source: National Association of Jewellers