Introducing Simon Walton, Managing Director of Berry's Jewellers. We discuss the history of Berry's, the challenges and advantages of running a family business and the expansion of their stores. Simon shares insights into the luxury watch and jewellery industry, including the importance of building relationships with brands and the unique challenges of selling high-value items, including the dangers of robbery. The conversation also touches on the impact of online shopping and the strategies Berry's employs to create an exceptional in-store experience.

If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.

INTRODUCING SIMON WALTON

Simon Walton is Managing Director of Berrys, a 5th generation family jewellers. Currently with 13 stores, Berrys is one of the largest independent watch and jewelry businesses in the U.K.

Berrys recently opened the only Patek Philippe boutique outside of London in Leeds.

Simon is married with 3 kids, a fanatical Leeds Rhinos fan and keen road cyclist.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00:00] Introducing Berrys Jewellers

[00:03:30] Navigating family dynamics in the business

[00:06:00] Expansion through opportunity

[00:10:00] the cash-intensive nature of the jewellery industry

[00:13:00] The security challenges

[00:16:00] Retail expansion when the High Street is dying

[00:19:00] Building luxurious shops and selling luxury products

[00:30:00] My brilliant business idea

[00:32:00] The future of Berrys

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS

• people by from people when they have confidence that they know what they're talking about

• people want the experience of shopping on the high street

• When selling luxury brands, the brand is bigger than your business

3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR

“Over a 10 year period we opened one store a year"

“there's always a very good armed police presence in Leeds"

“I sold a Patek Phillipe for two and a half million pounds"

VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU

Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/

Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk

Website: https://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berrys-jewellers/

Shout out: https://www.green-room.com/

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ABOUT YOUR HOST

Phil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled the full SME business journey of launch, growth, scale and exit.

As well as hosting the Leeds Business Podcast, Phil now works with ambitious SME-owners as a Business Sounding Board (think somewhere between Business Coach and Business Mentor). In simple terms, he’s ‘a pair of ears and an extra pair eyes’ for SME Owners helping them to be better at what they do. Phil’s mantra is It doesn’t need to be ‘lonely at the top’. He helps Business Owners to be better business owners, by helping with their clarity and focus.

As a Business Sounding Board, he gives SME Owners the time & space to regularly discuss their challenges and opportunities, with no sense of judgement or bias, and in complete confidence. This allows them to explore their options in full, culminating with a list of issues to address/clarify, a clear target in mind, a roadmap to success, and a renewed enthusiasm and confidence for the challenges ahead.

Want to work with Phil to help you? See www.philfraser.co.uk.

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LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST

Patek Phillipe, Vacheron, Panerai, Berrys, Leeds, Business in Leeds, Leeds Business, Business in Leeds, Nous of Fraser, Business Sounding Board, Business Coach, Business Mentor,

Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

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I have a LIMITED TIME offer for you. We all know running a business can feel a bit lonely, right? I know.... I’ve been there. I grew my own business from a kitchen table start-up, all the way to a multi-million-pound exit. Nowadays I help other business owners, like you, sort out their business problems; whether it's clarifying your forward planning, helping you sort your biggest problem, helping you prioritise your workload, de-fogging your thinking or just being there to download on. I can help. One client recently said, “You gave me clarity in just one session” — and that shift helped them hit 25% growth in following three months. So here’s the deal: your first session with me for just £99. But only if you contact me by this Friday. No bullshit. No fluff. Just a proper conversation about your business, solving your problems. So, if you’re ready to think more clearly, email me at [email protected] today. Quote 'podcast' in the email title to claim your £99 session. And if you want to find out more about me check me out at www.philfraser.co.uk.