Case Studies

Jill's Jewellery

After graduating from Cardonald College, Glasgow, Jill Parker decided to take some time out and travelled to New Zealand. It was there that she gained valuable experience working in the international jewellery market. Upon returning home, Jill achieved a lifetime’s dream of setting up her own business, thanks to financial help and support from PSYBT.  The start-up funding enabled her to buy some specialist tools for producing jewellery and help towards getting her website up and running.

Jill’s Jewellery is based in aptly named ‘Ringford’ Castle Douglas, Dumfriesshire.  Jill describes her jewellery, which is all handmade, as ‘funky’.  Inspiration for her designs come from collecting Seashells, Daisies, Roses, & Butterflies which she uses to hand make moulds and ‘unique’ changes inline with customer requests.

“It is important to meet any personalised requirements” Jill said. “I feel that I have created a niche for myself by being versatile in terms of being able to work in precious and non-precious materials.  I have also created various ranges and styles which is setting my business apart from some of the others.  A lot of other contemporary designers who have just come out of art school seem to adopt one style so the variety that I can offer is definitely a unique selling point.

Jill’s aim now is to build her profile by attending as many exhibitions, craft fairs and trade shows as possible.   She hosted the PSYBT Volunteers Gathering in Dumfries & Galloway, providing a jewellery making demonstration of some of her work, and a valuable networking experience for many of the other small businesses who attended.

Commenting on how her business has progressed so far Jill said “it has certainly been a challenge and you do sometimes find yourself questioning your ability.  I think the most important thing is to believe in yourself and have the confidence and determination to say ‘yes I can do this’  I feel that it is important for me to network as much as possible to increase awareness of my work.  It’s great to see the customer’s reactions when I show them the final product, they walk away knowing that they have bought something special.

Jill hopes to increase her online sales to customers across Dumfries & Galloway, especially those in rural areas and aims eventually to trade on a global scale.