Record-Breaking Business and the Houlden Advantage Are Key Highlights of the Houlden Autumn Meeting

22 Sep 2022

 

The Houlden Autumn Meeting took place in Windsor on September 8 and 9 when Houlden Members were united in sadness following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

In these unusual circumstances and following the challenge of the pandemic, the record-breaking business achieved at the meeting and the announcement of major new initiatives were key highlights of the event.

Business conducted over the two days of the event not only surpassed that recorded at the Spring meeting in March but also beat those achieved in September 2021 on a like for like basis – thereby exceeding all expectations and targets. The new initiatives were announced as part of the unique Houlden Advantage - the scheme designed to provide members with invaluable connections, knowledge, training, and support through the provision of added value services. Aimed at helping Members during the current tough economic climate, the projects included a new reward scheme for employees and the return of face-to-face training with a flagship course in Antwerp.

Attracting a record attendance from Members and Suppliers alike, the meeting provided a platform to both inspire and highlight the value of being part of this proactive Membership, demonstrating the collective power of coming together to share ideas and strategies and find solutions to help navigate the present challenges facing all businesses in the UK.

Setting the scene, keynote speaker Graeme Leach, chief economist of Macronomics Consulting, gave an insightful overview of the present and likely future economy and its’ impact on the luxury goods and jewellery sectors - flagging up at the same time commercial opportunities to help members develop strategies and focusses for future success.

Houlden Member Melanie Wakefield of Wakefields Jewellers said, 

“Being able to sit together and talk about the future, the economy, and the financial climate when you are all in the same boat together, facing the same issues, is so worthwhile. The membership is incredibly open, honest, and really transparent about their businesses. You pick up some great tips that you would not necessarily get in any other networking scenario.”

This was followed by the announcement of Houlden’s new Employee Reward Scheme. A valuable resource offering employees’ substantial financial benefits to help counteract the rising cost of living, the scheme offers attractive discounts with numerous major well-known providers of groceries, homeware, fuel, welfare and health, and the management of finances, to mention but a few.

Another initiative launched as part of the highly regarded Jewellers of Excellence Training Academy was the news that in addition to the ongoing popular virtual training programme, face-to-face training will resume this Autumn. The main feature of which is the return of the three-day IGI Diamond Trading Course in Antwerp in November.

Members also applauded the news that a more detailed part two Salary Survey was being finalised, together with the launch of a Taking Greater Responsibility project – part of which will be reviewing Houlden’s Supply Chain with a focus on both sustainability and corporate and social governance.

Joining the group for their first event as a Houlden Member, Chris Ellis, Manging Director of Dipples in East Anglia said,

“The event was an eye opener for me as my first Houlden meeting as a Member. Gathering at both Members Morning and the Private Principals Meeting proved to me that although we are independent jewellers across the country, we share similar problems and issues, but also successes. We each have something that we can bring to the table and that really helps.”

One of the high spots of the meeting proved once again to be the carefully curated Suppliers Exhibition of fifty-five premium brands, providing an exclusive buying opportunity over the two days. Both well-established Preferred Suppliers such as Shaun Leane, Clark Diamonds, Matt Aminoff, Bremont Watches and Diamond by Appointment to name but a few, starred alongside newcomers which included L J West Diamonds, Garmin, Marshall Packaging and Annamaria Cammilli showing their collections for the first time – often after an absence in some cases of twenty years.

Suppliers highlighted the value of showcasing their collections at Houlden events, with David Fell, UK Brand Manager for Hans Krieger, 

“The Houlden group is undoubtedly the pre-eminent jewellers in the country and to have them all in the one location is fantastic for a Supplier because we have the pinnacle of British jewellery here, and Houlden brings it all together. We are here, they are here…it is a perfect match.”

Sentiments shared by Craig Cohen, Director, Ntinga, 

“This year at Houlden we had a record success. We saw an increase in the orders placed as well as more of the Houlden members coming to view our new collections” - and Gareth Thomas, Business Development Director, Brown & Newirth: “Houlden enables like-minded retailers and suppliers to connect, encouraging high-level business conversation and the development of inter-personal relationships that are the lifeblood of our industry.”

For many of which it is their sole show in the UK – thanks to the quality of the membership. As Caterina Di Pasquale, Wholesale Manager of Faberge, stated, 

“Houlden is the only trade event we go to in the UK. This is our third time of exhibiting, and it has proved very productive for us, with the opening of a number of quality accounts. To the point that we did not want to miss being here, so we are exhibiting at Vicenzaora at the same time this year!”

This was reflected by Josef Fraiman, Senior Vice President of the Merit Diamond Corporation,

“We only come to the UK to exhibit at Houlden events. It is a privilege to be here with the ‘cream of the cream’ and as a US company we greatly value the long-standing relationships established over the years of showing here” – and Scott West, Executive Vice President of L J Diamonds: “As specialists in the rarest coloured natural diamonds, for us it is the only show with the right audience to be at in the UK”. Reiterated by Mark Riddle, Business Development of Deakin & Francis: “We are returning to this Houlden event after a gap of seven years. As a long-standing British manufacturer, we put a high value on engaging with premium, long established luxury goods retailers. As a result, the Houlden event is considered the perfect launch pad for our latest collections – all supported by our in-house engraving service.”

Summarising the success of the meeting, Helen Haddow, CEO of Houlden, observed, 

“We have received excellent positive feedback from everyone who attended the event, and it is very encouraging that the meeting also provided the catalyst for achieving record breaking business. And to be together with colleagues and friends when the news of the death of the Queen was announced, helped provide solace for us all to reflect and share our thoughts and memories.

The Houlden Advantage has come into its own during all the recent challenges of the pandemic and now the economy and rising cost of living. Its value I believe will grow in the coming months, providing vital connectivity and the sharing of insights, with the ability to tap individually and collectively into the inherent unrivalled experience of our Members – thirty of the leading jewellers in the UK and Ireland, including our newest member, Dipples. As a Group, we are focussed on creating peer-to-peer networks, with a view to cascading all the benefits of the Houlden Advantage down through Members teams, whether it be in marketing or aftersales. It is at times like this that working together brings success through sharing solutions, providing inspiration, and motivating change.”

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Source: Houlden