Cathy Stephens Jewellery

Edited version of article first published in 2005

Welkom to Groby

Don't blame the spell checker. This Welkom is a mining town in South Africa which sprang up after gold was discovered on a farm. The centre of the gold fields since 1947, Welkom is the birthplace of Cathy Stephens and the starting point of her journey to international success ....and Groby.

Cathy lived in Welkom until she was eleven, and at 18 years of age faced a familiar dilemma - what path to take in further education. "Pottery at Loughborough College of Art was the final choice," said Cathy, "at least until I heard the tapping from the adjoining jewellery workshop." This brought back memories of her grandfathers' flair for jewellery design and the pieces he commissioned for her grandmother. A change of course followed and on graduating in jewellery design Cathy was the first woman to be awarded a graduate apprenticeship from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

The switch from pottery to jewellery design was the first in a series of decisions which changed her life. Marriage in 1972 was another, not just because her husband Michaels' business acumen matched Cathys' creative flair. Her choice of a wedding present was to become a remarkable investment in their future together. "It could have been a three piece suite or a painting," she reflected, "but what I really wanted was silver and a set of tools". She had made another wise choice.

Cathy, who is now a Freeman of the City of London, was made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths at the age of 29. This was just six years after setting up her own home based business making her own designs and selling them direct to jewellery shops. Four years later she stood outside the former Co-op store on Ratby Road which she wanted as a workshop. She had hit a snag. Groby doesn't have many shops and the planners wanted the old Co-op to continue to have a retail element. She was about to make the third life changing decision : to convert the old supermarket to a showroom and the first floor to a workshop. She didn't realise it but the modest jewellery display of 2 cabinets with six pieces in each was to set the course her business life was to take. The Cathy Stephens brand was about to become known not just throughout the UK but around the world.

The company website (www.cathystephens.co.uk) is colourful but only gives an overview of the company. Don't expect to view an online catalogue or buy online. From the Home Page links include the design service, the latest designs and the workshop.

Perhaps more useful to villagers is the link to a list of services available in the showroom. There's hand made designer jewellery in platinum, gold, and silver, and a redesign, alterations, repair and remaking service. You can also call in when your pearls need restringing, your watch battery needs replacing, or you have a ring or trophy which needs engraving. Valuations are available for insurance purposes. And if you want to know what kind of gift to buy someone for their wedding anniversary there's a listing of all anniversaries from paper(lst) through to diamond (60th).

Cathy Stephens has 2 outlets, the other is in Nottingham. Addresses and photos are on the website, together with opening hours and telephone numbers. There are 10 staff at Groby including Cathy, her husband Michael and daughter Pippa.

Despite Cathy Stephens international reputation the Groby showroom is not intimidating and has many attractions for Groby and Field Head residents, not least the fact that it doesn't involve a journey into Leicester and can't be found on every High Street. Cathy offers a full range of services as mentioned above. This isn't one of those showrooms where if you have to ask the price you know you can't afford it - there is something for everyone from budget through to rather expensive, with particularly good value at sale times.

But there is one unseen jewel amongst the sparkle and glitter that ensures that customers go away happy - a motivated team. It's demonstrated by the unsolicited and unexpected comment of the young workshop technician who graduated from DeMontfort University and added to her skills at Cathy Stephens. "I'm proud to work here", she said. Whatever your line of business if your employees feel like that you know you have achieved true success.

Beating the credit crunch

Gloom throughout the economy, and the retail sector in particular. now seems part of everyday life. Most big retailers are reporting reductions in turnover, some are slipping into the red whilst others slip into oblivion and receivership. Those who offer something extra and put customers first are reaping the rewards in a competitive marketplace.

The jewellery business is no exception, and last month Signet, which has over 500 stores in the UK, reported a pre-tax loss of £224 million for the year compared with profits of around the same amount for the previous year. Former Chief Executive Gerald Ratner is best remembered for his widely reported comment some years ago that one of their lines was ‘crap’.But locally Cathy Stephens, the jeweller Groby likes to think of as it’s own, is staying positive through difficult times for retailing. Cathy Stephens Jewellery has had their showroom and workshop in Groby for almost 30 years. The shop has changed in that time, keeping up with the latest styles and trends.

“We design and make a luxury product,” said Cathy “and we aim to provide a unique jewellery experience. Choosing a piece of jewellery- whether it is from our wide range of silver, gold and platinum pieces on display, or a commissioned piece, is an experience which should be enjoyed. That means that everything matters, from the service you receive to the surroundings you find yourself in.”

If it didn’t come from someone with such an international reputation you might think that’s just a sales pitch, but Cathy has recently renovated her Groby premises with these principles in mind. The showroom has been extended to include a new Design Studio. “I am very lucky,” said Cathy, “I have an excellent team of staff. Without them we would not be able to offer what we do. Sam, the manageress of my Groby shop has been with me for more than 20 years. The Design Studio was her brainchild which neatly fitted in with some general re-structuring we have been doing.”

Cathy’s daughter Pippa has recently taken over the running of the business, moving to Leicester from Maidenhead where she had been managing their third shop. “I immediately liked Sam’s idea and resolved to see it put into action. It was a bigger job than it first appeared as it involved a whole new communication system for the building and the creation of three new offices upstairs. However once the logistics were out of the way we really had fun with the design of the room itself,” she said.

Pippa’s enthusiasm for the concept is obvious. “The room screams luxury and opulence with leather furniture and beautiful gold sea grass walls,” she said. “Chandeliers give the room a warm glow while funky world music drums in the background. Crystal decanters of Bourbon beckon those with time and drivers! The room makes you feel good and offers privacy for those who want it. There is space to relax and talk as Cathy takes you on a design journey to your perfect piece of jewellery.” Now that’s a sales pitch and if the room makes you feel good no doubt the bourbon makes you feel even better!

There is much negativity in the market place at the moment due to the current economic climate, but this locally based business with branches in Nottingham and Maidenhead isn’t just about the top end of the market. The sales at the shop are looked forward to and present the opportunity to buy distinctive jewellery locally at attractive prices that continue to surprise.

But Cathy's first love continues to be design, and she loves specialising in handmade diamond jewellery in platinum and l8ct gold. “We have been here making jewellery for our customers for a long time- providing a service that is dying out in our country, a service which allows you to have exactly what you want- not to accept something off the shelf the same as everyone else already has. Nobody knows what may happen in the future but we are confident enough not to be afraid to invest in our future and to invest in the pleasurable experience we can offer our customers- they deserve it.”

On March 4th at Bourne End auction rooms in Buckinghamshire a range of jewellery items were offered at guide prices of up to £6000. But of all the items on offer only one piece, a yellow gold bracelet set with oval pink sapphires and brilliant cut diamonds, had its designer named. That’s right, Cathy Stephens, your neighbourhood jeweller.

First published in the Groby Spotlight May 2009

Two men arrested after a jewellery shop raid

Two men have been arrested after a jewellery shop was raided by masked thieves. Detectives arrested the men who are aged 22 and 21 last night on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. The Cathy Stephens Jewellery store and workshop was the victim of a robbery on the evening of Tuesday 19 December. Police were called to the shop in Ratby Road just before 5.30pm after four men entered the premises wearing balaclavas. They were armed, carrying an axe and a crowbar. The axe was recovered from the scene.

Pippa Stephens, who helps run the business started by her mum Cathy and dad Michael, told the Leicester Mercury that she was helping to close up for the day when the robbers arrived. “It was five or ten minutes before we were due to close and these guys came running in with their balaclavas and their axes. There were five of them in total - one in the car outside, one who stood in the door and three who just started smashing the cabinets. This is not the first time we have been robbed. It is unfortunately just a part of being in the jewellery business but we have security systems. We activated the panic buttons and the room filled up with smoke and the shutters came down. The system is set up to get them out and it worked. They were only in for 30 seconds - 30 mad seconds - and they left."

The thieves broke three cabinets and took some engagement rings as well as some of Cathy’s distinctive hand-made jewellery. They won’t be able to sell it on, they’ll have to break it up.”

The suspects left the store with in a red Ford Focus, which was recovered from Foxglove Drive, Groby, later the same evening. A crowbar was recovered from the car. Staff were inside the store at the time of the incident, but were not injured. However, they are understandably shaken.

DS Jason Fell, who’s leading the enquires, said: “We are currently in the process of carrying house to house enquiries and trawling through CCTV from the local area. From enquiries we’ve conducted so far it’s believed there may have been pedestrians and motorists in Foxglove Drive at the time the getaway car was left there, If you witnessed that or saw any suspicious activity in the area please get in touch. We also know there were a number of vehicles and people in the area at the time the men entered, and left, the store. If you were in Ratby Road around 5.30pm please come forward. Having as much information as we can at this vital stage of the investigation is very important.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101, quoting quoting incident number 454 of 19 December. August 2013

Armed robbery at Groby jewellery store

Police are appealing for witnesses to an armed robbery at at the Ratby Road store at 10.45am on Friday August 23. Three masked men entered the store, one carrying a baseball bat and one carrying what is believed to be a crowbar. The men threatened the victims and made off from the store with a substantial amount of jewellery. They made off in a dark Audi estate which was parked outside the store.

Detective Constable David Tunnicliffe, who is investigating the incident, said “We would like to ask local residents or people travelling through the area who may have seen anything suspicious in relation to this robbery to please contact us. Perhaps you saw the men in the area before the robbery? Or maybe you saw the men make off from the location.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC David Tunnicliffe on 101, follow the instructions to leave a message for a police officer and when prompted key in the officer's identification number 2105. Or contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111. May 2009