Meet: Carats Jewellers

We caught up with the lovely team at Carats Jewellers in Ipswich to see how they’ve been getting on, what they’ve been up to and how they’ve found the last few months…

We have been producing bespoke pieces and remodelling existing pieces for 35 years, based in the heart of the town centre opposite the Butter Market shopping centre. The business was started by Ian Bishop, who along with his wife, Heather, successfully ran it until the start of this year where he retired and his son Hayden took over. We repair all types of jewellery, creating bespoke pieces, remodelling old or broken items, ear piercing, rhodium plating, stone replacement, watch and clock repairs, not to mention our large stock of engagement, wedding and eternity rings along with a great selection of women’s and men’s jewellery.

Because we offer such a large range of services we have a varied customer base, we really believe that we cater to all ages and preferences. Whether you’re shopping for wedding rings or after advice on a much loved family heirloom, we’re fortunate enough to provide a service to everyone. We are incredibly lucky to have a loyal and regular client base but of course we’re also excited to get the opportunity to welcome new faces!

Like all businesses, lockdown has had a major impact. When we re-opened there were just two of us back at work, and even now we’re still not able to have all our valuable and much needed staff back. Fortunately we have seen an increase in footfall over the last 2 months, our customers have been incredibly patient with the safety measures we’ve put in place and would like to thank them all, old and new, for their continued support though all of it. It really means the world to us to be able to continue to serve the amazing people of Suffolk.

We want to ensure that customers and staff alike are safe when they come into the shop. We have introduced a one way system, a limit on the amount of people allowed in at any one time, and we supply hand sanitiser for customers and PPE for staff. Where possible we’re trying to limit contact with handling stock but we have a sterilizing box and regular cleaning throughout the day. We’re making every effort possible to keep our customers and staff safe and happy whilst shopping with us.

We believe customer service and attention to detail definitely gives us an edge, along with our prices. Because our repairs and commissions are done onsite it means we are able to offer competitive prices as we don’t rely on expensive overheads from outsourcing these services. Most of our staff are trained goldsmiths and our customers are able to speak directly with the person who will actually be making and or repairing their piece of jewellery. This allows us to spend time getting all the details correct, ensuring the finished piece is exactly what the customer wants, plus we offer a very high level of aftercare.

The relationship and rapport we have with all of our customers gives us confidence for the future, without them we would not still be here! We’re also really fortunate to have a fantastic team that are dedicated to their role within the business.

Website: www.caratsjewellers.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caratsipswich
Instagram: @carats_ipswich