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Press release, May 23, 2011
THE FISH BROTHERS GROUP JOINS THE COMPANY OF MASTER JEWELLERS
The Fish Brothers Group, which includes contemporary retailer Charles Fish, is the newest member of the UK’s biggest buying group, The Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ).
Fish Brothers Director Samantha Hansard said the decision to join The CMJ was motivated by a desire to play a greater role within the UK jewellery industry:
"The vibrant culture of The CMJ reflects what we are about as a business. The Fish Brothers Group is a family business and we are all strong team players. Belonging to The CMJ is also about being part of a community so it felt like a natural fit. It's easy for a retail business to become introspective, but as the retail jewellery industry is changing so quickly, it’s becoming vital to get a wider perspective."
"By becoming members of The CMJ, we also hope we will be able to give something back to other members and help emerging talent in the jewellery industry. We hope that being a member of The CMJ will be helpful to the industry as a whole, as well as being beneficial to us as a business,"said Samantha Hansard.
CMJ Chief Executive Willie Hamilton said he is delighted to welcome The Fish Brothers Group to The CMJ: "The way in which the Company of Master Jewellers is building on its core membership of traditional retailers means we are increasingly being regarded as the preferred group for contemporary, high-end and mini multiple retail jewellers. Our mix of membership that includes long-established businesses and first generation jewellers, from high-end to high-street and everything in-between, gives The CMJ a depth and breadth of experience that all our members can learn from,"he said.
"Our aim in The CMJ is not simply to provide our members with clear financial advantages in joining. We also give training, networking and marketing support and we are leading the way in becoming a progressive industry forum, promoting best practice, giving an ethical lead and encouraging new design talent in the UK jewellery industry,"said Willie Hamilton.
The Fish Brothers Group joins other recent CMJ retail members, including Pressley’s in Worthing, Justice in Winchester and Bath, Prestons of Bolton, Michael Matthews Jewellery in Bournemouth and Joule in Hampstead.
About Charles Fish
Award-winning retailer Charles Fish prides itself on its wide range of beautiful and contemporary jewellery designs. It is the exclusive stockist within the Wharf, and in some cases within London, for many of the designers it works with.
Charles Fish has two jewellery shops, in Canary Wharf and High Wycombe. It is part of the Fish Brothers Group, which has nine Fish Brothers shops in the Greater London area and also operates two Swarovski boutiques in Chelmsford and High Wycombe.
Charles Fish recently refurbished its Canary Wharf salon and will be launching the new look shop at a London Jewellery Week party on Thursday June 9th from 5pm, where customers and press will be able to meet three of Charles Fish’s most popular designers, Shaun Leane, Alexis Dove and Ruth Tomlinson. The new Charles Fish e-commerce website www.charlesfish.co.uk also goes live in June 2011.
About The Company of Master Jewellers
The Company of Master Jeweller is a collective of over 125 jewellery retailers, with over 260 shops. It was formed 30 years ago to provide a strong platform from which independent jewellers can trade freely and independently with the assurance of the support of a professional structure. OUR MISSION is to be the leading cooperative buying group for independent retail jewellers. OUR CODE OF PRACTICE is to provide professional, ethical, collective support and value, to enable the membership to maximise their business potential.For details on how to become a member of The CMJ, visit www.masterjewellers.co.uk
Press release, April 04, 2011
THE COMPANY OF MASTER JEWELLERS LAUNCH CMJ MEDIA, A SPECIALIST JEWELLERY MEDIA COMPANY
CMJ Media is a new company that has been formed under the umbrella of parent group The Company of Master Jewellers, to provide marketing, branding, press and publishing services to the UK jewellery and watch industry.
CMJ Media is managed by jewellery specialists for jewellery specialists: it is headed up by Sarah Carpin, a respected jewellery editor and consultant, and Colin Harris, a creative and publishing consultant who has worked with jewellery organisations and companies in the UK for many years.
CMJ Media Director Sarah Carpin said that the advantages of working with CMJ Media are clear: “We have expert knowledge of the UK retail jewellery and watch market, from understanding market and product trends, to our key relationship with independent retail jewellers through our parent company, The Company of Master Jewellers, and our intelligence on the best selling jewellery brands and products in the UK.”
Fellow Director Colin Harris added: “The experience and expertise we have within the jewellery and watch industry gives us a real strength in what we can offer to our clients. We provide a complete package to help jewellery and watch brands succeed in the UK market, from marketing through to brand consultancy and networking opportunities.”
The specialist team at CMJ Media provides a variety of marketing services and products for jewellery and watch retailers, brands, wholesalers and designer-makers.
The service is not limited to members of The Company of Master Jewellers, although retail and supplier members of the UK’s biggest buying group will be able to enjoy discounted rates.
Sarah Carpin said: “CMJ Media provides a range of support for jewellery companies that includes contract publishing, producing and managing advertising campaigns, website design and brand consultancy. As a specialist company that only works within the jewellery industry, we also provide consultancy advice to brands who are looking to break into the UK market.”
“Our advertising services include developing strategies that will help you get the best results for your budget and include a full production service, from ad page designs, website banners and even radio and television commercials.
“We also provide a comprehensive online marketing service – from managing and designing websites to Facebook and LinkedIn profiles and blogs. We can provide each of our clients with a bespoke marketing and PR strategy and offer event management services that include advice on participating in the right trade shows for your product, which promotional events you should be considering and we can help you network with the most influential people in the jewellery world.”
Chief executive of The CMJ, Willie Hamilton, said CMJ Media is just the beginning of what will be a range of new subsidiary companies that will be provided for the industry under The CMJ umbrella. He said: “CMJ Media and the value and quality of the service it provides to CMJ members is another good reason to join our Group. It gives our members a distinct business advantage over their competitors.”
The Directors of CMJ Media are Sarah Carpin, Colin Harris and Steve Slaney, who all have many years experience in publishing within the jewellery industry.
Sarah Carpin has an expert knowledge of the jewellery market after working for some of the world's leading jewellery and watch publications. Sarah works with retailers and suppliers and can advise on branding and product design, PR strategies, marketing and market research. She also contributes to a number of jewellery and watch titles, including consumer magazines, B2B publications and market research companies. She is also an experienced radio broadcaster and producer.
Colin Harris, who also serves on The CMJ Board of Directors, is a publisher of many award-winning consumer and B2B magazines and catalogues and has worked with The Company of Master Jewellers for many years to provide marketing and design support for the Group. And Steve Slaney heads an experienced design team to produce branding, advertising and publishing material.
CMJ Media
Marketing, publishing and PR experts for the UK jewellery and watch industry
T: +44 (0)1788 540250/ 01825 723924
M: +44 (0)7528 519349
Somers House, 25 Somers Road
Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7DG
www.cmj-media.com
Press release, April 01, 2011
MICHAEL MATTHEWS JEWELLERY OF BOURNEMOUTH JOINS THE COMPANY OF MASTER JEWELLERS
The Company of Master Jewellers welcomes Michael Matthews Jewellery to the UK’s biggest Buying Group. Michael Matthews has two shops based in Bournemouth and is run by young husband and wife team Matthew and Colette Corica.
CMJ chief exective Willie Hamilton said: “We welcome Michael Matthews to The CMJ. They are young and successful retail jewellers and I believe they will bring even more fresh thinking to our Group of forward-looking independent retailers.”
Michael Matthews opened over 20 years ago by Matthew Corica’s father Ian. Five years ago, it outgrew its original shop and moved 100 yards up the road to a premises three times the size. The main jewellery shop specialises in fine diamond jewellery and wedding rings, which are complemented by exciting branded ranges such as Shaun Leane, Baccarat and Ti Sento. It also stocks Raymond Weil, Bremont, Oris, UBoat, TechnoMarine and Cuervo Y Sobrinos watches, along with pre-owned watches - generally holding approximately 125 pieces covering all major fine Swiss watch brands.
The original Michael Matthews shop is now a fashion jewellery store called Charmed by Michael Matthews and stocks Pandora, Links of London, Thomas Sabo and Nomination.
“We are a modern family-run jewellery shop with traditional values, ‘small enough to care, large enough to serve’,” said Matthew Corica.
“Michael Matthews has a strong reputation having been long established in Bournemouth. We consider ourselves to be the most exciting independent in our town and we have built a strong loyal customer base,” Matthew Corica said.
“We will be looking to firmly establish our Charmed store as the leading provider of quality fashion based jewellery in our area and we are also looking to open a new shop in the city centre of Southampton.
“Joining The CMJ is an important part of our growth strategy: I was attracted to the Group not just because of the real financial advantages it will give us but also because of the networking, training and marketing advantages it offers. And a key attraction for us was to be in a group of like- minded business people, who are striving to further their businesses.”
Press release, March 15, 2011
CMJ Spring Trade event steps up with new stand scheme
The Company of Master Jewellers Spring trade event, held at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole on March 13-14th, was the Group’s biggest ever and saw the launch of a new stand scheme.
CMJ chief executive Willie Hamilton, said he was extremely pleased by the new look show, which was changed to meet the needs of the Group’s increasing number of members and suppliers. “With the growth of the Group in recent years, our twice yearly buying meetings have evolved from small meetings in a hotel room with 20 suppliers to an exhibition that showcases over a hundred suppliers across three big showrooms,” he said.
“The new shell stand scheme offers retailers and suppliers more space to conduct their business in a more private and professional environment.”
“An important element of selling jewellery is looking at the entire branding proposition. Our retailers are not content with merely looking at product but also need to be aware of available Point of Sales materials and marketing opportunities that will help them sell watches and jewellery to their customers. Many of our suppliers understand this, and we were pleasantly surprised to see the investment many of them have made in producing first rate stands at our show,” he added.
CMJ supplier Kit Heath also took the opportunity to launch its new shop-in-shop concept at the event, displaying an entire shop in shop for the first time to show retailers how it can look when fitted within a showroom. The silver brand used the event to test how quickly they could transport a shop-in-shop display and fit it, with great success.
Show organiser, CMJ Operations and Branding Manager Lucy Hill, said the option of stands was well received by retailers and the majority of suppliers. “One of my aims in organising the new stand system was to improve the lighting at the show,” she said. “It is virtually impossible to sell jewellery without displaying it with proper lighting. We have achieved this at our event and trading was improved as a result.”
New suppliers exhibiting for the first time for the CMJ included Skagen, MeisterSinger, Breil and D&G watch brands, jewellery designers Fei Liu, Alexis Dove, Rachel Galley and Daisy Knights and fashionable jewellery brands Daisy, Babette Wasserman and Missoma. “I am very happy to join the CMJ family, who have made me feel so welcome this weekend,” said Fei Liu. “It has been a very good show for me and I have opened several new accounts with retailers that I wouldn’t have been able to contact without being a part of CMJ”.
The CMJ has over 120 members representing some 250 shops across the UK and Ireland. Overall attendance at the two day event topped 600 and included a gala dinner for over 400 people on Sunday evening. With a British summer beach theme, guests were wined and dined with entertainment from popular live band The Bogus Brothers.
TOMASZ DONOCIK AND BACCARAT WIN CMJ AWARDS AT SPRING TRADE EVENT
Retailers attending the CMJ’s Spring Buying event in Birmingham this month voted for the best designer collection and most impressive stand at the two day trade event.
Designers shortlisted from the event’s Designer Quarter included Alexis Dove, Fei Liu and Sarah Jordan but the winner was Tomasz Donocik. In presenting the prize at the event’s Sunday night gala dinner, CMJ executive Sarah Carpin said: “Tomasz won the vote because of the outstanding quality of his new collection. His new fine jewellery collection combines edgy sophistication and finesse, while his silver ranges, especially his leather, silver and hematite cuffs, have huge commercial potential.”
Tomasz Donicik said he was surprised and pleased to win the trophy and said the weekend’s trade event went very well for him: “I have exhibited at the CMJ shows before, but this weekend I’ve had more positive feedback and potential orders than I’ve ever seen before.”
Baccarat was the winner of The CMJ’s Best Stand Design, from a shortlist that included Gc watches, Clogau and Seiko. Baccarat was chosen for its sophisticated stand design that showcased the Parisian brand’s collection of crystal jewellery. CMJ executive Sarah Carpin said: “Baccarat is a perfect example of jewellery that needs to be seen in the context of what the Baccarat brand represents. And this stand shows this off to its maximum potential in what is a relatively small space.”
The Company of Master Jewellers Spring trade event, held at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole on March 13-14th, was the Group’s biggest ever and saw the launch of a new stand scheme.
The CMJ has over 120 members representing some 250 shops across the UK and Ireland and overall attendance at the two day event topped 600 and included a gala dinner for over 400 people on the Sunday evening.
For further information high res pictures and any interview requests, please contact Sarah Carpin
The Company of Master Jewellers
Somers House, 25 Somers Road
Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7DG
T: +44 (0)1788 540250
F: +44 (0)1788 575042
E: sarah.carpin@cmj-media.com
Babette Wasserman jewellery
THE COMPANY OF MASTER JEWELLERS REPORTS RECORD BREAKING TURNOVER FOR 2010
The Company of Master Jewellers reports that sales in 2010 broke all previous records in the Group’s 30-year history.
In the nine months of trading since April 2010 The CMJ has exceeded the entire year’s turnover for the 2009/10 financial year by over 30%.
CEO Willie Hamilton said: “This strong growth in a time of recession shows the strength of our individual retail members and is also a reflection on our increasing membership, both for retailers and in securing new supply partners.”
“We have also benefited from closer working relationships with established and new supply partners. I have worked with my colleague CMJ executive Sarah Carpin to bring trend-setting brands and designers to work in close partnerships with our retailers, and this strategy is proving to be a very successful one,” said Hamilton.
New brands and designers who have joined us in 2010 include Baccarat, Ladyheart Diamonds, So Jewellery, Gurhan, Autore South Sea Pearls, Babette Wasserman (pictured), Sarah Jordan, SHO Fine Jewellery, Alexis Dove and watch brands Technomarine, Carl F Bucherer, Skagen and Bulova.
Babette Wasserman said: “We are delighted and very excited to have been invited to join the CMJ. Being a member gives us the opportunity to meet some of the UK's leading jewellers and see them in private and personal environment at the bi-annual CMJ show. The long standing reputation of the group coupled with the growing success of our brand Babette Wasserman jewellery, we believe will make a cocktail for success.”
Working in partnership with The BJA, we also offer new designers the opportunity to showcase their collections at our CMJ Buying Meetings. These have included up and coming designers such as Tomasz Donocik, William Cheshire, Ana de Costa, David Webdale and Claire English.
NEW JEWELLERY AWARD TO BE LAUNCHED AT SPRING FAIR
The Company of Master Jewellers will be launching a new award at Spring Fair International in Birmingham next month, for the best new jewellery collection at The Jewellery Show.
The award will be judged by CMJ member retailers attending The Jewellery Show, who will be voting on their preferred new jewellery collection based on criteria according to design quality, innovation, commercial appeal and price.
The winner of the award will be announced by The CMJ’s chief executive Willie Hamilton during a champagne drinks reception at 5.20pm on Tuesday February 8th at the Pandora Catwalk and Café area.
The winner will receive a trophy and the chance to showcase the winning collection at the next CMJ Buying Meeting, which will be held on March 13-14.
“We want to give an award that not only recognises the importance of good and original jewellery design, but also looks at the quality of craftsmanship and the commercial appeal of the collection, including the retail price point,” said Willie Hamilton. “This is the formula for a best-selling collection. The winner of this award will be getting The CMJ stamp of approval, which will give retail buyers added confidence to make an investment in buying the winning collection.”
WELCOME TO OUR NEW OPERATIONS AND BRANDING MANAGER
The Company of Master Jewellers is pleased to announce the appointment of Lucy Hill in a new role created by the expansion of The CMJ.
As Operations and Branding Manager, Lucy Hill will be managing the twice- yearly CMJ Buying Meetings, the Group’s AGM, Retail Tours and all trade exhibitions that CMJ participates in.
She will also be organising internal and external forums on industry issues such as internet sales, ethics in the jewellery industry and supply chain challenges. And will also be negotiating new CMJ group supply rates for members such as car leasing and insurance.
Lucy will also be Branding Manager of our own fast-growing diamond brand Mastercut. Colette Gibbons, who joined us in September, will work with Lucy to expand sales and distribution of the Mastercut diamond jewellery collections through our membership.
Chief executive Willie Hamilton said: “Lucy has been working with us on a freelance basis in 2010, to provide sales training support for Mastercut diamonds and we were impressed by her professionalism, experience and energy. Her new full-time role is two-fold: firstly to free the CEO from the day-to-day operations of the business, and secondly to enhance the benefits for members and suppliers who belong to The Company of Master Jewellers”.
Lucy Hill has been working in the jewellery and watch industry for many years, first working with Swatch in 1988. She went on to establish a marketing company focused on watches and in the 1990s set up the Springcolour company to bring licensed product such as Guess, Lacoste and Versace to the UK market.
Hill said: “I think I have an unusual perspective on this industry having run my own business within it. I have a good understanding of the realities of the jewellery and watch market as well as an intuitive perception of where the market is going in the future.
“I first worked with The CMJ as a supplier and I was intrigued by the diversity of the membership and the opportunity the Buying Group presented. I met Willie a couple of years ago and listened to the ideas he had for developing The Company of Master Jewellers. I was inspired and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
