Strong Optimism and Value of Connectivity at the Forefront of the Houlden Spring Meeting

19 Mar 2024

The Houlden Group’s Spring London meeting last week proved to be both productive and commercially positive for Members and Suppliers alike – a true reflection of the dynamic and unifying role of the Houlden Advantage – delivering an exceptional range of services and skill sets to help equip members to remain at the forefront of the industry.    

Optimism predominated at this very well-attended Spring event, which took on a new format with the popular Suppliers Exhibition on the first day and the informative Connection Conference on the second day.

Following the recent announcement of Isabel Rhodes as the newly appointed Houlden CEO, the attendees were able to personally meet Isabel over the two days. Introductions were made by Helen Haddow, who remains on the board to ensure a seamless transition and to continue offering support and sharing her extensive knowledge gained from 24 years of working with the Houlden community. 

Suppliers Exhibition 

The highlight of the first day was the Houlden Supplier Exhibition showcasing more than 50 renowned UK and international suppliers, including newly appointed suppliers and several guest suppliers.  The showcase provided an excellent opportunity to forge new business connections, see new collections for and open new accounts. 

Supplier Craig Cohen, Director of Ntinga, succinctly summarised the success of the day,

"The Houlden Supplier Showcase is a pivotal part of the Houlden Advantage, allowing Supplier Partners to collaborate with Houlden retailer Members for tailored discussions. Beyond displaying our array of gemstones and showcasing our unique collections, it also provided Ntinga with a platform to explore collaborative partnerships. The event allowed us to emphasise our commitment to training and empowering retailers with knowledge which we believe is a dynamic, collective expression of the Houlden Advantage."

The Connection Conference

Helen Haddow reported on the resounding success of the Houlden Members 2023 Festive trade, where an impressive 70% confirmed thriving business despite a decline in in-store footfall, indicating that the Houlden members’ sales teams displayed excellent expertise in enticing customers through their doors.

Helen also bid a fond farewell to Keith Gill who stood down in October after over 12 years. She thanked him for his generous guidance over this time and for sharing his considerable industry knowledge - sharing that he was the instigator of the Houlden motto ‘For the greater good’. 

The Conference opened with Behavioural Economist Roger Martin-Fagg presenting comprehensive economic insight for the jewellery industry in 2024. 

Erol Sukan of GFK followed with an in-depth report on the Watch business as driven by industry data collated by GFK on consumers’ buying behaviour, which highlighted the continued positive growth in sales at the premium end of the watch market. 

The importance of Cyber Security in business was highlighted by Chris White, Police Detective Inspector | Head of Cyber & Innovation – including the need to practice cyber drills and the awareness of cyber essentials for ongoing business protection.   The session was concluded by Adam Bastock of Small99 with a concise step-by-step ‘how to’ guide for businesses looking to achieve net zero.

Helen Haddow aptly summarised the day,

"Our economist speaker's uplifting perspective not only resonated but also embodied the confident outlook that defines our collective identity. Our other engaging speakers and panel discussions provided not only food for thought but also insights aligning with our commitment to knowledge-sharing. Meeting the incoming CEO was a prime example of informative collaborations and further underscored the collective strength and shared values within the Houlden community."   

This was further reflected by Dominic Wakefield of Wakefields noted,

"As ever, connecting with fellow Houlden Members was a pleasure, and the abundant networking opportunities reinforced the Houlden Advantage. The insightful speakers at the Connection Conference, notably Roger Martin-Fagg, injected much-needed optimism into the economic outlook for 2024. We are grateful to the Houlden team for orchestrating another brilliant buying meeting, exemplifying the collective strength and shared values inherent in this collective group of like-minded retailers."

Yvonne McKnight, CEO, Affinity Brokers endorsed this,

"As a core service supplier to the group, the Houlden Advantage instils confidence in our collaboration with highly experienced and principled businesses. Houlden Members, celebrated for their excellence, enjoy collective benefits from exclusive insurance discounts we offer. This event served as a valuable opportunity to connect with Members and gain insights into the industry challenges they currently face."

Supplier Partners and Trade Guests Session

The final day was capped with the supplier partners and trade guests open floor session skilfully orchestrated by Rachael Taylor. Of interest was her informal interview with incoming CEO Isabel Rhodes, a great way to introduce Isabel to the Houlden community, and a closing insightful session with recently appointed Ben Massey, new Chief Executive Officer of the NAJ. 

The Private Principals Meeting 

The Private Principals Meeting, a roundtable gathering of Principals, took place in the afternoon. Principals openly shared their challenges and solutions across a variety of topics. This meeting, often regarded as embodying the principle of the Houlden advantage, brought together like-minded business retailers for candid discussions.  A fitting end to two incredibly productive days.

Save the date: Houlden Autumn meeting 9 -11 September 2024

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Source: Houlden