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| About Plush Jewellery |
Plush Jewellery
came into being a the beginning of 05 from a concept
that was formed over a couple of glasses of Pinot.
At Plush Jewellery's heart is the belief that contemporary
jewellery should be accessible to all, in designs
that aren't those run-of-the-mill ideas that can
be found in every high street.
We knew that the jewellery was out there and that
people were crying out to buy it, it was a simple
process of bringing the designs to the public.
Not sitting back and waiting for the jewellery to
come to us, we set off in search of the best UK
jewellery design talent and we now work with some
of the finest UK based Jewellery Designers, talented
craftspeople who continue to practice the art
of the Silversmith. we currently work with Sara
Preisler, Annika Rutlin, Latham & Neve, Zelda
Wong, James Newman, Tanya Igic, Julie Dickson, Emma
Atherton, Quintasexual, Kokkino, Jessica Hewitt
and Harriet Bedford - you can find out more about
these Designer Jewellers and view some of their
work on our Designers page, which
can be found here.
During it's first two years, Plush Jewellery has
grown, we began by specialising in Sterling Silver
Jewellery but now hold Gold and Diamond
Set designer pieces and Plush now exists in
three dimensions. Firstly, this very website you
are reading, where - as well as being a showcase
for Plush Jewellery - we make pieces from the Jewellery
Designers available to buy alongside selected pieces
from other contemporary Sterling Silver jewellery
ranges, we change the pieces available on the site
regularly to reflect trends and seasons. Secondly,
Plush
Parties, where we take Plush out on the road
to people's homes and workplaces, giving people
the convenience of shopping from their own chairs
- more
about Plush Parties can be found in the Parties
section here. Thirdly, our first Contemporary
Jewellery Gallery, Plush Chichester - more about
which below... |
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| Plush
Chichester |
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At the
end of 05 we were looking for a location for a Contemporary
Jewellery Gallery and were keen to open in the Chichester
area. We were lucky enough to be offered the opportunity
to take on number one, Cathedral Courtyard.
1, Cathedral Courtyard was once an outbuilding of
a 17th century coaching inn and has retained a number
of features over the years, the ones that drew us
to it were it's size (fairly compact but with a
full-height ceiling) and the vast windows that would
allow Holly full reign for some fantastic window
displays. However, nearly everyone who comes in
also comments on the gorgeous old oak beams and
mezzanine (hay loft!).
From day one, Plush Chichester has drawn a wide
range of customers, gaining a large number of 'regulars'
due to our practice of obtaining different pieces
throughout the season rather than buying in in bulk.
Our 'regulars' pop-in once a week to see what's
new.
We hold a larger range of pieces from the Jewellery
Designers we work with at Plush Chichester than
we show on this website. As on this site, where
we show each designer's work in their own section,
at Plush Chichester each jewellery designer has
their own tray, we believe that each designer's
skills and takent should be recognized and this
is reflected in the way their work is displayed.
Having the gallery space has also given us the opportunity
to show ranges from gift and homewares companies
such as respected glassware manufacturers LSA
International.
Cathedral Courtyard lies at the southern end of
South Street, nestling against the old city walls
(with easy access to carparks, oh and pubs!) - here's
a link to find us via Google Maps. We've also
put together a small guide to some of the things
to do in and around Chichester - here's
a link to our Chichester Guide.
The gallery is run on a day-to-day basis by at least
one of the Plush People - more about whom below... |
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Plush People |
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"If
you looked into a crowded room and had to choose
two people who would start-up a business together,
I guess you wouldn't choose us." Allie.
With backgrounds in jewellery, retail, the internet
and buying, Holly and Allison had gained lots of
experience between them before making the jump and
becoming their own bosses.
"Our backgrounds
are so very different," says Allie "Hol's
been working with Jewellery for years and her eye
for design is so finely tuned, her visual merchandising
is so good, she actually makes it look all too easy.
She can be looking at some pieces laid out in front
of her on a table and I can see she can already
see what the display would look like in the gallery
and how it would sit with the other ranges she's
bought, I go off for a coffee at that point."
"I'll just stick to working in two dimensions;
taking the product photos for the site, producing
the print stuff and doing the writing bits. I know
my limits, let me sit and play with some graphics
or text for a couple of hours and I'm a happy (slightly
geeky) bunny."
"That does make
us sound like chalk and cheese but we do have a
few things in common. We both scuba dive, like a
nice meal, enjoy a drink (or two) and like having
a laugh. Most of the best ideas we've had for Plush
have come from sitting down with a few glasses of
wine and just chatting really. I guess that's the
most important thing really; we listen to and respect
each others opinions. It's got us where we are today."
Thanks to Neil and the team at 31
North for letting us in for our little photo
session.
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