Happy Christmas & New Year to all of you.
I'm sitting down to write this post with a cup of tea and some news I really wish I didn't have to share. It's about why there's no Winter Sale this year, and what's coming next for the business.
The Silver Situation
Silver has jumped 20% in just the past week (as of December 27th). Over 150% in the past year.
You might have seen it mentioned in the news, buried somewhere between the headlines. Or this might be the first you're hearing about it. Either way, it's real, and it's affecting every jewellery maker who works with precious metals.
What This Means For Me (And You)
With Chelsea Flower Show preparations starting soon, I need to start making my new stock for the show. New silver. New findings. New chain. All at these new, eye-watering prices.
And that means I'm facing price increases I simply can't absorb.
I have to pass them on to you - my loyal customers, the people who've supported this tiny business for years. And honestly? It breaks my heart.
A concrete example: the loose silver spiga chain that forms the base of most of my necklaces cost on average £6 last year. The same chain today costs over £17. That's nearly three times the price for the raw material alone - before clasps, before findings, before any charms or pendants are added. Before hallmarking. Before finishing. Before engraving. Before a single business overhead is accounted for.
The Impossible Choice
I know jewellery is a luxury. I know we're all feeling stretched right now, with the cost of everything rising. And I know that for a small business like mine, this moment feels impossibly precarious.
Do I sell nothing because customers can't afford the new prices? Do I make a loss on every piece to keep prices down? Or do I risk having to close altogether if this continues?
These are the questions keeping me up at night. I don't hold immense amount of stock, I order in small batches and finish to order, so unlike enormous companies that own their own factories every price rise has a huge knock on effect.
What Happens Next
Here's where we are: if you've had your eye on something from any of our classic collections, this is your moment. Current prices are being phased in over the Christmas holidays - the time we would usually be doing a winter sale. The reality is it's almost more cost effective to scrap some pieces than reduce the prices at this point.
I'm repricing gradually - there's no huge team here to automate things, just me working through the collections piece by piece. So you'll see changes roll out over the coming days and weeks.
And if silver keeps climbing the way it has been? Prices will need to keep adjusting to match.
Thank You
I want to say thank you. Thank you for reading this, for understanding, and for sticking with me through all of this.
Small businesses like mine exist because of customers like you. Your support, your purchases, your kind messages - they mean more than you know, especially in uncertain times like these.
Here's to 2025. Whatever it brings.
Stevie Holmes, Designer & Director
