Argenteus celebrates its 15th anniversary
Tuesday, 20th October 2009
On October 3rd 1994 a door opened for the first time in a tiny shop in a fashionable corner of Oxford named, appropriately for a jeweller, Golden Cross.
15 years on and Argenteus has come a long way since those humble beginnings. In that time we've been lucky enough to see a growing band of loyal customers whilst gaining a reputation as a touchstone for leading edge style in an ever more competitive market.
Having expanded into stores and outlets around the country, including a flagship store in Covent Garden, one of the coolest locations in London, Argenteus remains committed to providing a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for customers to browse their diverse and eclectic ranges of contemporary jewellery. Two things have remained a constant inspiration. The great British flair for design shown by the artisans who continue to create the breathtaking collections to grace our stores and our discerning customers that choose to adorn themselves with them
The directors retrenched the business in 2006 reducing the branch numbers from 7 down to the three current stores, plus a thriving website and they are now set to begin a new phase of expansion in 2010. Managing Director Ian Middleton said : “We saw the writing on the wall about a year before the recession hit. We went through a difficult period of re-organisation but that has left us with a vastly stronger operation. With our current successful outlets as a firm foundation, we now have our sights on a considered re-expansion into a challenging market that we’ve proved we know inside out”.
Going forward, Argenteus is keen to play its part in the resurgence of the UK high street, with small local boutiques being preferred to large mall locations. “The potential is there for two new store openings in 2010 with the possibility for concession type operations being actively sought at the moment” said Middleton.
15th anniversary celebrations are being held in each branch on the first three Saturdays in October with ongoing promotions throughout the month and into November. New collections for winter include a fabulous range from designer of the moment Zelda Wong and an expanded collection of men’s jewellery from long standing Argenteus designer Iain Henderson. Argenteus’ own signature range SpiritSilver continues to gain momentum into the festive season and is expected to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
Argenteus is located in The Greyhound Walk in The Mall Bristol.
For more information contact marketing@argenteus.co.uk, call 01865 840810, see our website at www.argenteus.co.uk, follow us on Twitter @argenteus_jewel or see our Facebook page.
