5 minutes with: Sheldon Bloomfield

by IJL • February 22, 2016February 22, 2016

Since setting up his business 25-years ago, Sheldon Bloomfield has weathered all the ups, downs, triumphs and tribulations that the jewellery industry has to offer.

His eponymous Yorkshire-based fine jewellery company initially specialised in 9ct gold handmade jewellery manufactured in the UK, but this soon morphed into coloured gemstone pieces for the UK’s finest independent retailers.

Today, Sheldon only sells 18ct gold or platinum pieces – the majority unique and one-off creations – designed by himself to customers in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

We spoke to Sheldon to find out more about his plans for IJL 2016, his market observations and why he’s confident about his place in the UK market…

Q: What have your experiences of International Jewellery London been like in the past and what do you hope to achieve in 2016?

SB: IJL is an important event in our year. It is a great chance to display more of our range and show potential new customers what we specialise in. It is also a good opportunity to catch up with existing customers. We feel IJL is the start of the Christmas buying season for retailers so there is always a buzz around the event. In 2016 it would be great to find a few new leads at the show as well as continuing the success we have had in previous years with selling.

Q: Have you noticed any trends in recent months?

SB: There are definitely certain gemstones that have increased in popularity over the last few months. Morganite in particular has been very strong as well as other pastel colours. The double halo design continues to be popular but there is no real trend in what design sells as we have so many one off pieces.

Q: What are your feelings on the market for fine jewellery at the moment – do you feel confident?
SB: Fine jewellery is a tough sector but we offer a niche product that is different whilst remaining commercial. We deal with many fine independent jewellers who operate at the top end of the market who are willing to invest in beautiful jewellery, so yes I feel confident.

Q: Are there any facets of your business that you will be trying to adapt or grow in 2016?
SB: I will be focusing on areas where we have gaps in the range in order to increase the choice for retailers. I want to grow our smaller core range whilst continuing to come up with new exciting bespoke designs using top quality gemstones.

fine jewellery gemstones IJL 2016 Sheldon Bloomfield trends

Education, Industry, People

Leo de Vroomen and Shaun Leane – Getting to know the people behind the designs

by IJL • February 18, 2016March 7, 2016

Last night we headed to the Goldsmiths Centre for ‘In Conversation’ with industry leaders Shaun Leane and Leo De Vroomen. It was a sell-out event and totally exceeded our expectations.

The setting was intimate and casual, almost like being in someone’s front room, listening to a conversation and stories shared between friends. Jos Skeates, Owner of EC One and Chairman of the Goldsmiths Craft & Design Council, got the conversation started with a few prepared questions for the designers. The audience were invited to ask their own questions to keep it interesting.

Not all of their jobs were glamorous when starting out, but everyone has to start somewhere. Their apprenticeships were a huge part of their success and helped them find their style and develop into who they are today.

We learnt that both Leo and Shaun actually got into the industry by accident, but fell in love with being at the bench and seeing their designs evolve into life. The longevity and the emotional relationship with jewellery is why they love what they do and still have such a passion for it.

What was really interesting was a question on brands. A member of the audience asked Leo and Shaun if they consider themselves a brand and if that was important to them. Leo started by saying that being known as a brand actually isn’t very important him and he would rather people recognise and distinguish his jewellery by its style and signature, rather than by a brand. Shaun echoed this, saying he thinks of Shaun Lean as more of a ‘house’ than a brand and it is more important to stay true to your style of jewellery rather than sacrifice your identity for the sake of a name.

They had great advice for emerging designers; be confident with your work, experiment to find a style, be bold with it, stay true to your designs, love and believe in your work and this will resonate with buyers.

To sum up, it was an inspirational evening, unexpectedly entertaining by their humour and whit and we look forward to more of them.

goldsmiths centre Jewellery Leo de vroomen Shaun Leane

Industry, People, Products

Rachel Galley talks returning to IJL in 2016

by IJL • February 18, 2016February 19, 2016

Contemporary jewellery designer Rachel Galley will return to International Jewellery London this September, bringing with her new collections and ambitious retail and digital plans. Here she explains to IJL why some time away from the industry has only increased her determination to succeed.

Q: What has been your experience of exhibiting at International Jewellery London?

RG: I exhibited at IJL in 2014, the first time the show was at London Olympia, I would have re-booked for 2015 but I was busy with my new baby. The show was really positive for me in 2014 and we had many returning retailers and many new accounts opened at the show. We also opened lots of new accounts after the show with people who had seen us at IJL.

Q: What is it about IJL that appeals to you as a brand?

RG: I think the location in Olympia is good with great lighting, which makes for a really positive atmosphere to the show. It is a good time of year to be buying and getting new stock in for those bigger Christmas sales and promotions too.

Q: Will you be presenting any new collections when you exhibit at IJL in September, and if so can you tell us any themes or trends those collections follow?

RG: I am planning on launching lots of new collections and additions to my ranges. I have been off the radar for a while on maternity leave and so I want to show that I have been busy behind the scenes. I have many new exciting pieces to launch, alongside new website concepts, buying platforms for the retailer and I am also working on ideas that will inspire and give confidence to the retailers to invest in my brand.

Q: What do you think are the challenges for a designer jewellery brand in 2016?

RG: I have always designed what is right for me and my brand, so no matter what the trends are I have ensured the pieces I make are classic and timeless. The pieces have to be priced competitively and the high quality and provenance of the pieces needs to be clear also.

Digitally, images have to be strong and clear to be used on multiple websites for the retailers and ready and easy to use for various platforms such as Instagram, websites and also for print. The brand has to be ready for all aspects of sale and promotion across the multiple platforms we are now selling and buying on, and we as wholesalers have to give retailers the ammunition they need to bring customers in through their doors.

Q: What are your aims for 2016 from a business perspective?

RG: I have so many ambitions now that I have had some time off and reflected on the business and what is important to push forward. Firstly, I plan to expand the ranges with more gemstones and precious pieces, offering bespoke services as always to the retailer for commission pieces and personalisation.

I plan to build the relationship I have with the retailers as this is the key to building the brand. I have lots of online developments underway to link my website which consumers head to, to that of the retailer. I want to ensure that the retailer is able to claim back ownership of consumers who may have been into their stores and then like many of us gone home to shop online.

The retailers are losing consumers to online retailing and we need to work together to build this relationship otherwise we will be without a local family-owned jeweller on the High Street. I don’t have all the answers but I am implementing some strategies which I hope to be ready for IJL 2016.

Rachel Gally will be at Stand R90 at IJL from 4-6 September 2016.

Diamonds digital exhibitor fine jewellery gemstones IJL 2016 Rachel Galley

Industry, News, People

5 minutes with: Sarah Ho

by IJL • February 12, 2016February 12, 2016

Following a successful ‘Sentimental Treasures’ tour of Asia, Sarah Ho, founder and designer of Sarah Ho London, explains what makes the market so exciting and why she continues to rely on International Jewellery London…

Q: Why did you decide to go ‘on tour’ and what did you hope to achieve?

SH: I decided to start the jewellery tour in Asia to mark my 10th year of business, and the company’s first step into High Jewellery. I was born in Hong Kong, so it made sense for me to start the tour there. Then we went to Macau, a place where I was brought up, a place which as a market to break into is growing every year.

After laying a strong presence in both places it made perfect sense to end this part of the tour in Beijing which is known in the East as the doorway into the China market place.

Q: What makes the Asian market unique for jewellery?

SH: In Asia, when buying at a High level, the intimacy and the luxury of the service and experience on a one-to-one level is as important as the actual piece you are selling.

Q: In terms of your jewellery, do you find some pieces work better in the UK while others work best internationally?

SH: I found that in Asia the customers’ knowledge and experience in craftsmanship and the quality of the stones superseded anything I have ever encountered internationally. It was always our Master pieces or one offs that the Asian customer gravitated towards over any of my other collections, which have proven to be a success in Europe.

Q: What would be your advice to other brands who want to expand in Asia – are there any particularly strong places to start or things they should consider?

SH: My best advice is to find a good agency, or a local partner to collaborate with in order to get the maximum exposure in testing the market for your brand.

Q: How has exhibiting at International Jewellery London shaped your experiences as a designer and brand?

SH: I have been exhibiting at IJL for 10 years now. It is an important show to be in as we are at our core a British Company. Exhibiting at IJL gives us the amazing opportunity to catch up with our UK stockists, and to bridge potential new relationships with international buyers.

Watch: Sarah Ho presents her Amaryllis Collection to celebrate her brand’s 10^th anniversary.

Editor’s Choice 2015 WINNER: Sarah Ho won in the ‘Diamonds in Design’ category for her ‘6’ and ‘0’ diamond-set rings inspired by her larger Numerati Collection. Launched in the first half of 2015, the collection includes rings in the shape of numbers one to nine, with the numbers appearing more abstract when on the finger and more specific when off. The collection perfectly taps in to the special meanings associated with numbers in all cultures, especially the number eight in China.

China sarah ho Sentimental treasures

Industry, People