Edinburgh Assay Office launches new pay-as-you-go service

The Edinburgh Assay Office (EAO) is hoping to “unlock international markets” for online jewellery retailer’s with a new pay-as-you-go hallmarking and fulfilment service for online retailers. 

The new service will combine hallmarking and fulfilment with final mile delivery, opening up UK and EU markets for companies importing precious metal jewellery from overseas.

For the first time suppliers will be able to send single or bulk shipments direct to the EAO for hallmarking from where each individual product will be delivered to the end consumer.

The pay as you go model will mean that there is no need for upfront investment in stock or distribution infrastructure and the supplier does not need to operate a local distribution centre.

The service will work Virtual Assay Office, EAO’s web-based order submission and tracking system. This will allow customers to integrate their stock systems and ecommerce platforms with the EAO’s systems, meaning they can access real-time updates on the progress of their order.

Scott Walter, assay master and CEO of the Edinburgh Assay Office, said: “Hallmarks give consumers the confidence that what they are getting is the real thing. In order to continue to provide that protection we are constantly adapting our processes to support a range of different retail business models.

“Hallmarking and fulfilment coupled with a systems integrated solution has allowed us to create a win-win situation for online retailers and the consumer.”