Sparkling success for family jeweller
The weeks before Valentine's Day are among the busiest for Arthur Stanley, and this year is no exception.
The weeks before Valentine's Day are among the busiest for Arthur Stanley, and this year is no exception.
"People think the recession has affected everyone but we are going through one of our best times for business," says Arthur, who has worked in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter for 33 years. "Engagement and wedding rings are the biggest sellers at the moment as a lot of people are preparing to pop the question on Valentine's Day.
"Also the number of people coming in who are having a civil partnership is also high," says Arthur. "Last Monday was one of our best days for trade and it was one of the worst days for snow, so not even the bad weather is putting people off," says the 68-year-old who lives in Walsall.
"People are always attracted to the Jewellery Quarter and we have people from Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stafford and even Wales come to us for their rings."
Arthur worked as a mechanic in Birmingham before he decided to go into the jewellery business in 1976.
"At that time various manufacturers in the Jewellery Quarter were making ingot pendants for the Queen's Silver Jubilee, but they couldn't get them polished," he says.
"I spotted this niche in the market and opened a polishing shop.
"In 1978 they stopped producing the ingots and then I got some business with the person who made the rings for Ratners," he says.
"When Ratners went under I set up a shop called Stanley's on Vyse St in the Jewellery Quarter selling affordable jewellery and watches.
"In 1998 we bought the shop next door and called it Regency Jewellers, which my daughter Samantha and her husband Jason run.
"We still polish jewellery and we have a large factory over the shop, but a lot of our work is for TV companies such as Gems TV, QVC and The Jewellery Channel."
According to a national poll, growing number of would-be grooms are looking for less expensive rings, including alternatives to diamonds and gold.
Sapphires or birthstones are now popular.
Arthur says that while the number of people buying jewellery is at a high, people are still on the look-out for a bargain.
"People do keep their eyes open and they want an item that is going to last, but at the same time isn't going to break the bank," he adds.