Here is a selection of features from Attire Accessories magazine.
Artificial Intelligence – should you embrace it or fear it? Dids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying in Design (ACID) tells us more...Whatever area of the giftware sector you're in, there are many more questions than answers about using artificial intelligence (AI). AI is all around us and developing at an exponential pace and it's on the tip of everyone's tongue. AI's uses span the gamut of ground breaking and enabling, to its unauthorised use by machines plundering others' intellectual property with little or no regulation. Some may say plundering is a sanitised word for stealing the consequences of which threaten many with this sector. This rise on access to AI tools raises the question, will AI replace the traditional approach to designing are jobs on the line? Currently big business AI developers have written off the need for licensing so many ask, how will it be regulated?
Lara Stafford-Deitsch started her jewellery business as a sideline while on furlough during the pandemic, now the company is making waves in the industry. With a strong focus on the female form, my jewellery stands out with its bold signet ring shapes and intricate engravings. I love the tonal contrast of the bright and luxurious 18ct yellow gold against the cool matte silver. How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? As I have only been running my business during the difficult UK climate (started in 2020), I personally don't have much to compare it to. However the price of gold is sky high and this is obviously reflected in my pieces, which will of course cause some understandable buyer hesitancy.
Reeves & Reeves offers a varied and wide range of beautifully designed and crafted sterling silver jewellery – hear more about the company journey. When did you start up and why? We started Reeves & Reeves in 2012 to focus on a wholesale business after many years in retail shops. What prompted you to launch the business? We both had a passion to do something on our own as we love jewellery and the creative design process. Having a young family meant we wanted to be based more at home with a little less travelling involved. What challenges have you overcome since the company's launch? Too many! We have had industry specific issues with the price of silver increasing hugely, but also then the issues surrounding Brexit, COVID and the most recent cost of living issue.
Rodney Holman offers fresh and fashionable jewellery, made to an excellent level of quality,and backed up by first class customer service. Since we began 45 years ago, we have never had a minimum order, which has always created a lot of repeat business whilst giving our customers time for their confidence with their buying to grow, if they choose to 'start small' initially. We also off er free delivery across the UK mainland. Combine these attractive policies with an ever-evolving range of fantastic, high quality fashion jewellery and first-class customer service, on which we have always prided ourselves, and we feel we off er a comprehensive package for retailers.
Kayleigh Gresty, founder of Kreate Socials talks to us about how networking on LinkedIn can be beneficial to your business. Are you a business owner looking to grow your presence on social media? Whether you want to grow your engagement or want to increase sales, social media can be seriously overwhelming, so to begin with, just focus on one, until you get to grips with this.
This issue UK mailing service Washington Direct provides an insightful look at how to keep a long-term consumer base happy. Customer satisfaction is an integral part of business' ambitions if they wish to be a long-term success. Building a loyal customer base is important, but keeping those customers happy to ensure they will return in the future is essential as a business grows. Here, we look at how different brands can successfully maintain customer satisfaction, and how in some cases this has been refreshed to put a fresh spin on it.
Pomegranate London Founder Katie Bulatovic evolved her brand from market stalls to a bricks and mortar stall in London, and has developed a loyal customer base that returns year-on-year. Tell us a bit about your store and how you came to open the business. I had been trading for many years through fairs and various market stalls and my sister, who owned the restaurant next door to my shop, let me know that it was available to rent and I jumped at the chance to finally have a fixed address – and also to work next door to her! Is the location important to the success of your store? Our shop is on one of the oldest garden squares in London and, whilst not on the high street, it is a frequently used walk through up to the high street. We are in such a beautiful spot and I think customers like us being this hidden gem they have chanced upon.
Hot Tomato Director, Alex Machin, sees challenges as a learning curve, and has built a successful and thriving business offering guilt-free, affordable products. "We started trading in a very modest way in 2007. I was working as an agent at the time we set up the company and ran both businesses in tandem for the first few years. Our first range consisted of one style of silk scarf in 24 colours from Vietnam – I sold them out of the boot of my car as I travelled around seeing my customers – those were the days!"
Merci Maman founder Beatrice de Montille shares how the company holds motherhood at the heart of everything it does, and how it grew from a work-from-home job to the successful jewellery business it is today. Beatrice de Montille started Merci Maman over 15 years ago. After the birth of her second child, her employer rejected her request for a part-time role and she couldn't get the work-life balance she needed, so she started her own activity, originally as a sole trader working from home. However, she always had that entrepreneurial flare. She was hoping to create a few jobs but did not envisage that it would become so big. The company has had over 60 employees spread between London, Paris and Belin at the peak last year!
Ronin Jewellery designs and makes all of its jewellery in its own studio, and is proud of the fact that the brand is British made. When did you start up and why? We (Simon Morton & Kay Griffith) set up Ronin Designs in 1997 but at that time we were producing greetings cards. We didn't start doing jewellery until 2009 and we quickly decided to focus on that, giving up greetings cards. What prompted you to launch the business? We both have a creative background in photography and textile design respectively and we wanted to work together.