Jeweller celebrates 45 years in business
The owner of a family-run jewellers, which is celebrating 45 years in business, has said passion and a willingness to move with the times are the key to the shop's success.
Edmonds Jewellers, which is now in Kenilworth but had previously been in Cheylesmore, opened in 1979.
Owner Carl Edmonds joined the shop at 16 years old, when his family took over in 1986.
"I did work experience for two weeks in a newsagents and I just fell in love with retail," Mr Edmonds told BBC Radio CWR. "I don't know why, but I just thought that's something I think I can do."
Mr Edmonds said the shop had endured "tough times" but also enjoyed good times.
"Through it all I have absolutely loved it," he said.
Speaking of the reason for the shop's success, in a time when the high streets were hard hit and independent retailers were struggling, Mr Edmonds said: "Without a doubt it's passion, I'm very fortunate that I love what I do.
"There's no doubt that you need constant ideas and you certainly need to be agile and move with the times and prepared to make change - and probably over those years we have reinvented ourselves seven times.
"You've got to be a harder runner than the next person, you've got to be prepared to get up and go every day, but because I enjoy it so much, that part is actually quite easy."
'The most special thing'
Another reason he attributed was a loyal customer base for the jewellers, even after the store relocated from Cheylesmore to Kenilworth.
"A lot of customers in Kenilworth and the surrounding areas who are finding us are new," he said.
"But what's been quite overwhelming is the support of our Coventry customers - yes it's a 10 minute drive down the road and HS2 has been a bit challenging until recently - but the support of customers visiting us every day has probably been the most special thing."
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