We knew we were on to something good when we opened Wilkinson Goldsmiths at 4 Allandale Road, just over a year ago.
Since our door opened we have been overwhelmed by the support of neighbouring businesses and our customers, new and old, visiting us from far and wide. A couple of weeks ago we invited Leicester Mercury Business Reporter Isobel Frodsham to come and see what we get up to – and we thought we would share her write up with you.
Thank you to all who have visited us over the past year, we can’t wait to start 2016 – and are hoping to share some very special news of our own.
Whether it’s a ring from your childhood sweetheart or a necklace on your 18th birthday, jewellery is a universal treasure.
For Stephen Wilkinson, making such precious gifts has been his life for the past 24 years.
Stephen owns and runs Wilkinson Goldsmiths, a jewellery shop and repair workshop based in Stoneygate, Leicester.
He specialises in designing and creating his own jewellery, most notably engagement rings and pendants.
Despite running a successful business, Steve wasn’t always sure of what he wanted to do. It was only when jeweller Sean Gilbert was looking for an apprentice that he found his ideal career.
Stephen said: “I was at the GCSE stage of my life and had no clue what I wanted to do.
“Sean (who ran jewellers RS Gilbert, in Kibworth) came to my school to find out who was leaving school and who was interested in anything creative or physical.
“Quite a few people in my class got letters asking if we would like to go along to an interview to become an apprentice.
“I went along and I got the job.
“I have to be honest, I didn’t have an interest in jewellery, but I had an interest in making things.
“I began by learning some basic repair techniques – the first thing I made was a pair of earrings.”
But two years into his apprenticeship, tragedy struck when his boss was killed in a motorcycling accident. Stephen ran the shop for two months, with Sean’s wife working on the books, but the decision was made to close the shop.
He then went to Cathy Stephens jewellers, in Groby, in 1993, before becoming self-employed.
Stephen said: “I lived at home at this point, and I was only 20 years old, so it wasn’t a big risk.
“I moved into an enterprising workshop space in Gedding Road, which was run by Leicester City Council. The place was amazing, there was a hosiery business, a boat builder and a dental technician, who I’m still in touch with after all this time.
“The rent started off at £25 for a 12 x12 ft room, which was ridiculous.
“I was there for two years before the council sold the building.”
In 1997, Stephen moved again to Robert A Jones watch and clock repairs in Church Gate, Leicester. This proved another pivotal moment in his career.
He said: “It was that point really where I started taking the business seriously.
“Working with them helped me pick up a couple of trade accounts, one of which I’ve still got today, and that helped me to earn a living rather than scraping by.”
After moving on five years later, Stephen worked in other city locations, including his own house, before he went into the LCB depot in the Cultural Quarter.
He said: “When I went to the LCB, that’s when I started to create my own designs. I don’t know what it is about the place. I think it’s because it’s a creative business place, everyone’s buzzing there.
“On a day to day basis, I would mainly be doing repairs and sizes, but I started to design things.
“At the time, I had a spare pink sapphire and a diamond, and I kept looking at them and thinking that I wanted to do something with them.
“Most of my designs start with the shape of the stone. I like to integrate the setting into the actual piece rather than it being an afterthought. I like it to make sense.
“My design inspiration can come from anywhere really. Some days you sit down and there’s nothing there, and other times you just can’t stop.”
This led Stephen to create one of his favourite pieces to date – his pendants, which feature one large coloured stone and one small diamond.
Stephen said: “I was at the LCB for three years. I absolutely loved the place.
“If I could work anywhere it would be there, but there’s no passing trade, and I needed a shop.”
He became familiar with the area of Stoneygate after working with a jeweller there many years ago.
Last summer, he saw a shop was available for rent, and decided to go for it. He moved in July last year.
In the future, Stephen is aiming to have his own range of jewellery.
He said: “Ultimately, the idea is to get about 100 usable designs and get them into the shop.
“But, specifically, I want to get a range of wedding rings and engagement rings which are unique to me.
“I’m aiming to start properly next year, so I can take them and sell them to other jewellers.
“It would be nice to think your jewellery is in shops all over the country. I think that’d be lovely.”
