Heritage Jewellers

Shortcuts

• Address
• Telephone
• Opening Hours
• Alerts
• Contact The Business
• Request takedown

• 

  Want your business to be the top-listed Jewelery/watch Store in Westport?

Locals serving Locals

Locally owned and operated by Kathryn and Warren Bainbridge, Heritage Jewellers are part of the Nationwide Jewellers chain and stock many ranges of jewellery including: PANDORA, Najo, Ellani, Pastiche, Kagi, Evolve, Karen Walker, Worth & Douglas diamond jewellery. We also stock Citizen, Olympic, Casio, Isadora and Fossil watches and many other items including quality gift ware. Other services include watch straps & batteries, engraving, jewellery repairs and design by our manufacturing jeweller.

Westport retailer Kathryn Bainbridge recently celebrated 25 years in Heritage Jewellers. She and her husband, Warren, bought the store in 1998 after Mrs Bainbridge had worked there for five years. However she said she doesn't come from a background where jewellery featured. Her father died when she was three-years-old and she was raised - the youngest of six- by a solo mother. "We didn't have jewellery and we didn't have it handed down through the family." She was born in Karamea and lived on a farm where jewellery "wasn't on the radar". As an adult, the manager's role at Heritage Jewellers became the stepping stone for her and her husband to buy the independent business. In true Coast style, they have stayed independent since. However, Mrs Bainbridge acknowledged that the jewellery industry was transformed - for the better - by the Michael Hill chain. "He made it accessible to people. Jewellery stores used to be quite exclusive. "Now we have people who come in every week - it's part of their routine." She said for herself and her husband it had been "an amazing journey, the learning has been huge". Mr Bainbridge - a fitter and turner by trade - had been working at Holcim for 34 years when they decided to buy the business. He was able to transfer his skills to the jewellery industry. His work satisfaction had dramatically increased after buying the store. "It's just much more important, because it's us, it is ours," he said. He'd done 6791 ring sizings over the years - each is recorded. He usually worked afternoons at the store. His work included fixing clocks, watches and jewellery, engraving trophies and jewellery and sizing rings. His mornings are free to do community volunteer work, such as helping on the Kawatiri River Trail. He recently began volunteering on a new fishing wharf for families to fish from. The couple are proud to have kept their business going successfully. Mrs Bainbridge said she was often surprised to see places bigger than Westport didn't have a jeweller. "It's meant Westport has retained a very sustainable and active jeweller's shop that you don't often see in many towns - large towns let alone small towns." The real gem of the industry was the relationships developed with customers and suppliers, she said. "I love the interaction with people, and I also love the whole structure of retail. You've got to be hands-on at doing so many things." This included administration, compliance, stock control, and keeping the shop looking fresh. She said retailers needed to "change when the change is needed. You've got to move with the times, you can't sit back and think 'well I've got it now I've done it'.you've got to keep moving and changing. It's a lot of hard work but very rewarding." She said branding had been revolutionary in the jewellery industry. "People thought: 'Well it will never happen to jewellery. How can you brand it?' Then along came Pandora, and the [industry] changed. "People get to love a brand.they identify themselves with that look." Asked what her own favourite pieces were she said she couldn't choose. "Oh gosh, that's really hard. I just like a wide variety. I love every piece that I buy, so I'm very lucky that I'm able to buy it once - just sometimes I have to sell it," she joked. Buying stock satisfied the "desire to have things". "Then I see someone else walk out the door very happy with it." Between them, the couple have five children and 10 grandchildren. They look forward to the time when their grandchildren will be coming in to choose engagement rings.

Source: Becky Manawatu, Westport News