West Midlands
The West Midlands is a dynamic region for the UK jewellery trade, home to a blend of independent jewellers, manufacturing hubs, and suppliers. With strong local craftsmanship traditions and a growing base of retail innovation, it serves as a key commercial and creative centre outside London. Jewellery Focus covers the West Midlands jewellery sceneโincluding store openings, regional trade events, case studies of standout businesses, and market trends unique to the area. Our reporting helps trade professionals understand regional nuances, network opportunities, and how this industrial heartland contributes to the broader UK jewellery economy.
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Aug- 2022 -30 AugustRetailers
Store closures drop to lowest rate in seven years
Store closures have stabilised to the lowest rate in over seven years, with 6,146 store closures in H1 2022 (-30%) year-on-year from multiple retail operators, compared to 3,888 openings (+11%). According to PwCโs latest Store Openings and Closures report for H1 2022, there were 34 closures, 21 openings, and a…
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Jun- 2022 -10 JuneEvents
Jewellery Quarter Summer Festival to run in July
The British Jewellery and Giftware International association (BJGI) has announced plans to work with the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) to organise the Jewellery Quarter Summer Festival, which is due to take place on 23 July 2022. The festival will feature a handmade market showcasing West Midlands-based designers, makers…
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7 JuneAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office elects new Guardians
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced the election of four new Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate. They are Carla Goodfellow, Petro Nicolaides, Rachel Eade and Charles Barwell. The role of โGuardian of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birminghamโ was defined within the 1773 Act of Parliament that…
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Mar- 2022 -15 MarchRetailers
F.Hinds launches new Chapelle store in West Midlands Designer Outlet
F.Hinds has announced the opening of its new Chapelle store in the new West Midlands Designer Outlet in Cannock, bringing Chapelleโs portfolio up to 13 stores. The store is fitted with โmodernโ furnishings and reportedly offers savings of at least 30% off RRP. Chapelle stocks a range of diamonds, jewellery…
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Jul- 2020 -9 JulyCoronavirus
Arrest over suspected furlough fraud
A West Midlands man has been arrested as part of an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into a suspected ยฃ495,000 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fraud. HMRC officers executed a search warrant yesterday (8 July 2020) in the Solihull area and arrested the 57-year-old. This is the first arrest…
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Jan- 2019 -22 JanuaryAuctions
Watch resembling Aston Martin could fetch ยฃ10,000 at auction
A Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece created through a collaboration with Aston Martin could fetch between ยฃ7,000 – ยฃ10,000 at a Fellows auction on Tuesday 29 January. The limited edition gentleman’s platinum AMVOX 1 R-Alarm wrist watch is number 67 of 150 ever created, featuring the Aston Martin brand logo engraved on the…
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Oct- 2018 -18 OctoberRetailers
Retail sector โto face ยฃ186.45m business rates increase next Aprilโ
Retail firms will see business rates increase by ยฃ186.45 next April for the year 2019/20, according to real estate advisor Altus Group. Septemberโs Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation, announced on 17 October at 2.4% will determine business rate rises in England for the next year. It is its…
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Jun- 2018 -20 JuneEconomy
Independent retailers feeling โoptimisticโ about high street future
More than half of the nationโs independent high street retailers are optimistic about the future of their local high street โ and four out of five shoppers would miss their local high street if it was no longer there. This is according to new research to launch the government-run Great…
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8 JuneEvents
Birmingham City University reproduces historic American coin for Trump
Birmingham City University has reproduced a 227-year-old coin that will be presented to US President Donald Trump. The coin is to commemorate Birmingham hosting the annual British-American Business Council (BABC) transatlantic conference this week. The event at the Universityโs Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 7 June will welcome delegates from all…
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May- 2018 -31 MayEditor's Blog
High street health
Two interesting things struck me in our news coverage this month. First a new selling feature on photo-sharing social media app, Instagram, was ignored by more than 80% of retailers in its first week. A new โShoppingโ feature was rolled out to business accounts in the UK, as well as…
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