Highcross jewellery store Goldsmiths closed for huge makeover as part of new luxury store concept

Highcross jewellery store Goldsmiths closed for huge makeover as part of new luxury store concept

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A Highcross jewellery store is being transformed, to provide what is described as a ‘relaxed, inclusive and experiential’ in-store offering.

Goldsmiths, on the upper level of the shopping centre, is currently closed while the huge refurbishment is carried out.

However, the luxury watch and jewellery retailer’s pop-up store, next to Boots, remains open in the meantime.

READ MORE:Leicester’s Highcross shopping centre now dog-friendly following month-long trial

According to the retailer, the new store concept will be focused on luxury watch brands such as Rolex and Cartier, complemented by fine jewellery brands such as Gucci and FOPE, and supported by a leading in-store hospitality experience.

Goldsmiths, which is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, is planning to unveil its new store concept in major retail hubs and regional stores across the UK from October.

Canterbury, Reading and Brighton will all open in October, with Braehead, Leeds and Leicester set to open in November.

There will be dedicated areas for brands such as Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Breitling, Tudor, IWC, Hublot and Panerai.

As well as watches, there will be jewellery from brands such as FOPE, Messika, Gucci, Jenny Packham and Goldsmiths' sister brand Mappin & Webb.

Stores will have an open, flexible layout with VIP areas and hospitality bars where customers will be able to enjoy ‘curated’ food and drinks and consider their purchases in comfort.

The stores are set to feature a neutral palette of luxurious materials such as white-washed oak timber, white terrazzo and blackened steel.

Architectural forms will include repeating vertical lines and soft curves inspired by the Goldsmiths logo.

Craig Bolton, executive director of the Watches of Switzerland Group, said: “This is a significant milestone for Goldsmiths, which has a well-earned reputation for offering UK customers trusted expert service and a fabulous presentation of brands.

(Image: Becky Jones)

“Luxury today has become far more relaxed, inclusive, and experiential, so while we are elevating the Goldsmiths brand position, our goal is to make everyone feel valued and at home when visiting our stores.

“Our ambition is for all to have a memorable luxury experience long after they’ve made their purchase.

“We believe the repositioning and new store concept will transform not just the Goldsmiths profile and experience, but also brings some fresh life to our high streets.”

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Windsor woman frustrated with Mappins Jewellers after store loses her wedding ring

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Windsor woman frustrated with Mappins Jewellers after store loses her wedding ring “At this point, they were like, ‘We’re sorry. Mistakes happen,'” said Alison Quinlan of Windsor. “They said it could be anywhere in Canada. I’m like, ‘What do you mean?'” Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

Article content When Windsor resident Alison Quinlan brought her wedding and engagement rings to Mappins Jewellers

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Article content for cleaning and polishing, she didn’t realize it would be the last time she held them. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Windsor woman frustrated with Mappins Jewellers after store loses her wedding ring Back to video Now Quinlan is left wondering what happened to her cherished jewellery — and warning others about her experience. “I’m assuming (the rings) are gone,” said Quinlan, 40, on Tuesday. “It’s terrible. Who knows who’s wearing them?” It all started at the beginning of the year when Quinlan took the rings to the Mappins Jewellers store in the Devonshire Mall for a yearly “spa treatment” — a jewellery-beautifying service she’d used before. Quinlan was informed on Jan. 12 that the rings were finished. But this time, after Quinlan picked up the rings, she noticed something was wrong: They weren’t hers. “They looked like mine. They were similar,” Quinlan said. “But they had some type of little design. Little cut-outs. I showed my husband and said, ‘This was not here before!’ They were someone else’s.”

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Article content Photo by Photos courtesy of Alison Quinlan Quinlan contacted the store and pointed out the mistake. After an exchange of calls and messages, she returned to the store the next day. A staff member took back the rings. And the whereabouts of Quinlan’s actual rings? Unknown. “At this point, they were like, ‘We’re sorry. Mistakes happen,'” Quinlan said. “They said it could be anywhere in Canada. I’m like, ‘What do you mean?'” “I assumed they did some of this stuff locally. But she said no — it’s sent all over.” The more Quinlan thought about it, the more dissatisfied she felt about the customer service she was experiencing from Mappins Jewellers. “It is their fault. They’re responsible. They have to have procedures so they’re not misplacing people’s things.”

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Article content On Monday, Quinlan went to the store again — and was once again told they had no answers. “I kind of started crying before I left the store,” Quinlan admitted. As of Tuesday, Quinlan has given up hope of ever seeing her rings again. She’s been sharing her story on social media and to anyone who will listen. Besides being put out the monetary value of the rings (around $2,300), Quinlan is feeling a sentimental loss. “This meant a lot to me. This was my engagement ring and my wedding band. They were blessed in a church.” “I don’t want another ring from (Mappins). I do not trust the place. If I send it out for another treatment, who’s to say it won’t get lost again?” Quinlan said. Quinlan and her husband now feel only two outcomes would be satisfactory: Immediate return of the original rings, or compensation for the value of the rings — either way with “something extra for punitive damages.” If neither occurs? “I don’t know. I may go to a lawyer,” Quinlan said. Asked for comment, the Mappins Jewellers location at the Devonshire Mall directed all inquiries to the public relations departments of the parent companies Zale Corporation and Signet Jewelers. A representative for Signet Jewelers said they are looking into the matter and may have a response on Wednesday. dchen@postmedia.com Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

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Watches of Switzerland Group valued at £2.5 billion after ‘very good start to the financial year’

Watches of Switzerland Group (WoSG) was valued at £2.5 billion this morning after a further uptick in its share price in early trading following another stellar quarter of financial results.

WoSG runs the retailers Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb in the UK, and Mayors in the US.

Sales for the 13 weeks to August 1 (Q1 FY21) doubled compared the same period last year.

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That quarter in 2020 was affected by stores being closed for six of the 13 weeks in the UK and four in the United States, but group sales for Q1 FY21 were also up 46% up over the same period in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

“We have had a very good start to the new financial year with a further acceleration in momentum, versus pre-Covid 19 pandemic growth levels, underpinned by diversified growth across our markets and categories,” said WoSG CEO, Brian Duffy.

A lack of tourists shopping at airports and prime central London stores has been offset by strong domestic demand, according to Duffy.

“Trading in the UK has been extremely strong, driven by sustained high demand from domestic clientele. Our newly opened and refurbished stores have performed well, whilst our e-commerce business has also continued to grow impressively, proving the effectiveness of our multi-channel model despite the strong prior-year comparator,” he explained.

He reported that Stateside sales are up 95% versus Q1 FY21 and 53.6% against Q1 FY20.The group’s American business has always been mainly to domestic customers, or internal tourists to cities including New York, Las Vegas and Miami.

“Our US business goes from strength to strength, with excellent, broad-based growth continuing to characterise our performance in this market. Both luxury watches and luxury jewellery are performing strongly and our refurbished Mayors stores have continued to generate significant sales uplifts. We continue to invest in digital marketing initiatives to drive brand awareness, including through our recently introduced ‘Anywhere, Anytime’ campaign,” he said.

Financial highlights

Group revenue £297.5 million (Q1 FY21: £151.6 million), +101.9% in constant currency, +96.2% in reported terms relative to Q1 FY21 and +45.8% in constant currency relative to Q1 FY20

Continued high conversion and strong domestic sales despite subdued store traffic

In the prior year period (Q1 FY21), COVID-19 lock downs resulted in store closures of six weeks in the UK and four weeks in the US

Luxury watches +97.1% to £259.3 million, representing 87.1% of revenue (Q1 FY21: 86.8%)

Luxury jewellery also performing well +98.9% to £20.1 million

Group e-commerce sales +15.9% vs last year, maintaining strong momentum despite UK stores being open during the period

Digital marketing, CRM and clienteling continue to play an important role in driving customer engagement and business performance

Q1 FY22 benefitted from reduction of in-store stock on key brands

Net cash of £23.2 million as at 1 August 2021 (Net debt as at 26 July 2020: £(92.1) million)

WoSG in the United States

Further acceleration in the US with revenue of £75.8 million, +95.0% vs Q1 FY21 and +53.6% vs Q1 FY20 (both in constant currency)

Continuing the trend seen in Q4 FY21, growth has been driven by higher volumes

Recovery of traffic into Las Vegas and New York is driving accelerated momentum in our stores

Eight mono-brand boutiques recently opened are performing strongly and gathering pace

E-commerce sales continue to gain momentum following recent online launch

WoSG in the UK

Significant step change in UK sales growth with revenue of £221.7 million, +104.7% vs Q1 FY21, and

+43.0% vs Q1 FY20

+43.0% vs Q1 FY20 In addition to positive mix effects, growth has also been supported by higher volumes

Sustained high demand from domestic clientele has continued to drive performance

Multi-channel strategy continues to deliver strong results

Store development programme continues to work well with a number of projects completed in the period including a new Goldsmiths store and two new mono-brand boutiques in Edinburgh and one new mono-brand boutique in Manchester

Looking ahead, the group says its forward guidance is unchanged from the end of its prior financial year and it expects strong performance in both the United States and UK.

In its previous report, the group said it was in a position to accelerate expansion in the United States and Continental Europe with acquisitions.

There was no update on this plan in the Q1 report.