Argenteus closes last high street store
Jewellery retailer Argenteus has closed the doors of its last remaining high street store, located on Cornmarket Street in Oxford.
The closure comes 20 years after its very first store was opened in Oxford, since that time Argenteus had opened and closed nine different stores across the country, including a flagship Covent Garden store that was closed last year.
Ian Middleton, managing director and co-founder of Argenteus said that the closure of its last store was a “bitter pill to take” and that it was “a sad day for us all, not least for the final member of our sales staff who had been with us for over 17 years.”
Despite this Middleton has announced that the brand plans to return to Oxford in November with the opening of a concession in department store Boswells, which will also see a new look for the brand.
Middleton said: “The closure of the store was predictably an emotional experience, helped by the hundreds of loyal customers who came in to say how sorry they were to see us go. Happily though, we were delighted to be able to announce our return to Oxford in November in the form of a concession within Oxford’s oldest independent department store – Boswells.
“This marks a new direction for Argenteus and one which we hope to expand on in the coming years. It also prompts a new look for us and a new logo, to be revealed soon.”
Other plans for the brand will include a redesigned website, the development of its online designer marketplace, a potential new branded jewellery collection and further concessions if the Boswells trial goes to plan.
