Historic Glasgow jeweller sparkles after record year
Jeweller and diamond retailer Chisholm Hunter has reported achieving a record turnover last year with growth of almost 19%.
With 24 stores across the UK and an online store, the company’s combined revenue rose to £29.6 million in the financial year ending March 2015 from £24.9 million in the previous year. The business generated pre-tax profits of £3.5 million in 2015, up from £2.7 million in the prior year.
Founded in 1857 when a store of ‘10,000 Wonders’ opened its doors on Glasgow’s Chisholm Street, the company launched four new stores in 2014 and also grew its Glasgow-based support centre which has doubled in size in the past 12 months. This has enabled Chisholm Hunter to invest in highly skilled apprentices working to SWATCH accredited standards.
Harry Brown, managing director and the company’s gemmologist, acquired the Chisholm Hunter brand in 1989.
Brown said: “In this year alone we’ve doubled spend on training with the launch of a state-of-the-art training suite, where we deliver a range of high quality programmes including the industry gold standard qualification, Jewellery Education and Training, from the National Association of Goldsmiths.
“We’re continuously looking for expansion opportunities in both our existing estate and new locations. The stores are increasingly supported by our website, in which we invested significantly last year, to expand its capabilities and to capitalise on its potential as a key growth channel for the business.”
