End of an era

So today feels a little bit like the end of an era for me.

Today was the last day of work at Blue Hayes Hotel. I have been able to work alongside and make such amazing friends working at the hotel for the last 11 years, the guests are more like family visiting than they are guests, as I started there when I was 16 I feel like they have brought me up and made me who I am.

From working in such a well-established, quality hotel, Malcolm has shown me the best tips on how to run a very successful business and has taught me everything I know, from the way you treat the customers to the way you handle business. The hotel is run with the upmost care to the guests as you will be able to see from the amazing reviews the guests write when they leave, and this has really helped me in my business to treat everyone who I work with like they are friends and family and I will do everything to provide the best service I can.

It feels like the end of an era leaving the hotel but I am so grateful to the staff, Malcolm and all the guests who have supported me in my jewellery and has made me as successful as I am today.

I am sad to leave but I am also so ready to tell people I am now a full time jeweller. 🙂

So I wanted to explain how I started out and what it looks like now.

While completing two jewellery City and Guilds, I first started out with a yellow and black tool box that I used to empty out on the dining room table whenever I needed to make anything. I am extremely lucky to have a family in joinery, so next I made my first desk with my dad that went into my bedroom. As I started to get more orders and more equipment, I was able to move to a different room in the house and have that room as my work space. As my business grew even more I then moved my work space to my dad’s workshop where I work from now and actually still use the same desk.

From starting out in my jewellery making I created collection items that I designed from inspiration of my surroundings and sold them in galleries and wedding studios.

After 5 years of attending wedding fairs with my collections, I decided to start making wedding rings. This was the best decision I have ever made.

One of the things I love most about working with couples to create their wedding rings is, I get inspiration from each couple from their personalities. It is inspirational for me to be able to create a ring that represents them.

As I said above about what I have learnt working closely with couples who stay at the hotel, I am able do the same in my business by working closely with them to design their perfect rings that they will cherish forever.

In the last year, I have also picked up a lot of engagement ring commissions. This is a completely different feeling again. Helping to create a ring that is perfect for another person, most of the time they know nothing about jewellery so I am using my years of knowledge to give advice and help to know what is best.

I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me (there are far to many too thank individually) but you all know who you are. I am so excited for the future and look forward to meeting more couples who I will get to work with.

Steph

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