Merry Christmas from CRED

It’s a busy time of year here at CRED. The boutique is packed full of shoppers seeking the perfect gift for their loved one. The website is buzzing. Monica and Millie are running ragged making sure that everyone receives their presents in time for Christmas.

Christian, our director, is in Zambia visiting his in-laws, and a gem mine or two, as part our ongoing mission to seek out the finest ethically-sourced metals and precious stones. Annabel, our lead designer, is on her way to Nepal to visit the Harigni workshops, with the intention of bringing a new co-operative collection into being.

And we are rustling up a few surprises for the New Year, including a brand new designer collection and some good news for both our metropolitan friends and international shoppers. All will be revealed in 2010.

In the meantime, there’s still one more shopping day ‘til Christmas!

Hero of the Month

Sideways News has voted CRED founder Greg Valerio as their Hero of the Month. He's always been a bit of a hero to us, and to many small scale miners around the world, but it's great to see him get a little more recognition.

It's actually a good article, if you want to read a potted history of Greg's activism and the CRED journey. You can compare it with Greg's own version here, and our version of the story here. How's that for full disclosure?

Much thanks to Sideways News for not only featuring Greg and his work, but for showing clear ways you can get involved in the campaign for ethical jewellery practices. Go on, go have a read...

Do you shop online?

The BBC’s dot.life blog is today reporting that, although today is the biggest day of the year for online retailing, the reality is that most of us still shop via bricks and mortar. The ONS reports that 3.9% of retail sales are made online. So, although we may go to a few big names to make the occasional purchase, most of our transactions take place on the High Street.

Here at CRED we have been doing a lot of thinking about how and why people shop. We’re proud of our (newly updated) website, and the fact that half of our sales originate online. We’ve done our best to make our website friendly, engaging and informative, to help you find the information you need. But we also know that many of the people who come to our website go on to buy because of the personal contact Monica Mielgo, our fantastic shop manageress, dedicates to each enquiry. Monica and our shop staff respond to every email and call personally, answering questions on our jewellery and our ethics. Some people click to buy, but many more prefer to know the story behind each ring first.

It’s amazing to watch people as they pass by the front of our Chichester boutique, looking at the jewellery on show in the window. The new Sophie Harley collection is a real head-turner, and so many people are stopped short by the amazing Purpura ring. The web images are stunning, but they really don’t convey the beauty and the luxury of this collection – something you clearly see with only a pane of glass separating you.

So, while we are proud of our website, we know that even the best website isn’t a substitute for being able to hold a bangle in your hand, or try on a ring, or talk to someone about the providence of the stones and metals. That’s why we encourage people to visit us in Chichester, why we will be launching a deal with Arundel Hilton, giving customers preferential rates if they book an appointment with Monica, and why we are always open to suggestions on how best to use our presence online. If you have suggestions on what we should tell you, about CRED, about our jewellery, about our ethics, please do email or comment and let us know.

In the meantime, as you search for the perfect gift for your loved ones, we wish you well. And suggest that maybe a piece of ethically-sourced designer jewellery would go down a treat…