That’s exactly what jeweller and entrepreneur Kerry Huff has done. Using £150,000 of her own money, and a £50,000 Nat West business development loan, she has taken a 10 year lease on an old shop premises in Sydney Street, North Laine, Brighton. After a complete refurbishment, the shop has become ‘The Crop’, a bespoke jewellery boutique. The Crop offers exclusive handmade jewellery, hand-picked pieces from exclusive brands, and a selection of bespoke homeware, books and art. All picked to compliment her own high quality jewellery, and the company’s stated aim to be ethically responsible.
Having left university with a BA Honours in jewellery design, Kerry has spent the last twenty years building her reputation as one of the jewellery industry’s foremost designers and design consultants. Now, with the birth of the Crop, she has the opportunity to present her own bespoke pieces, and those of other highly talented creative designers and jewellery makers.
On The Crop’s first floor are two additional rooms, which have also been fully refurbished. In keeping with the company’s business ethos, the intention is to attract homeopathy, acupuncture and reflexology therapists interested in opening treatment rooms.
Once considered a slum area of Brighton. North Laine has been transformed into a vibrant, retro-chic, mishmash of over 300 independent shops and studios located throughout its narrow twisting streets. It is the largest area of independent traders on the South Coast of England.
With such a large group of local entrepreneurs selling everything from vintage fashion and Mexican furniture, to metalwork, ceramics, glass, sculpture, and paintings, The Crop is in the ideal place to attract those with a love of chic, handmade, high-end pieces of bespoke jewellery.
News in the same category
American fashion retailers Abercrombie & Fitch are to open their second UK store at the Intu Trafford Centre Stretford in vibrant Greater Manchester.
The very first Poudland store opened in December 1990, in Burton-upon-Trent. Now the discount retailer counts about 550 stores, for the UK only. It entered the stock market in March 2014. And just passed the £1 billion sales mark.
Kingfishers is adapting to new DIY habits and, while closing B&Q stores, the retailer plans to increase the Screwfix outlets network.
2018 has not started in the best way for the retail brand H&M with controversy surrounding their clothing advertisements and now bad news about their performance in 2017 as shoppers move online and stores struggle to attract large numbers of customers.
