The Jeweller Spring 2022: The Last Word... Goes to John Henn

17 Feb 2022

Sixth generation jeweller, managing director of TA Henn in Wolverhampton and our man at CIBJO goes under the spotlight.

Who has been the biggest influence on your working life?

My father – he and I worked together from my start until around 2000 when he retired. It wasn't an easy working relationship as I was in the store while he ran the company. It left me playing catch-up in later years.

Tell us about your career journey in the retail jewellery world?

I joined the company as it was sinking in 1980, spent five years losing less and less money until we broke even in 1985. I went to the CFH college in Lausanne to understand the structure of a successful business. The key lesson I took away was that American jewellers earned more money from the interest they charged on the accounts clients had than they did on the sale of the items.

How long have you been an active member of the NAG – now the NAJ? 

In 1985, I became a member of the NAG’s Young Executive section – we did some good stuff for charity, and I met some great like-minded jewellers. We considered people over 35 too old to join! I took – and passed – the NAG diploma courses, plus the FGA and DGA at the Birmingham School of Jewellery. 

Later I joined the NAG council, became a director, then chair of Education, Membership and Valuations committees for varying periods, followed by Association chair 2002 to 2004. I shared some memorable times with CEO Michael Hoare (a great guy, sadly missed), treasurer Frank Wood and vice-chair Jonathan Lambert. In 2016, I joined the British Allied Trade Federation board with the Independent brief on behalf of the NAJ. 

I've represented the NAG, latterly the NAJ, annually at CIBJO since 2002. It’s shown me the good and the bad, the selfless and the selfish and the companies that care along with those that don't know the meaning of the word. Are we doomed? I hope not; the new generations have a conscience, something that has been sadly missing from much of our trade. However, the future looks to be supporting the low-carbon artisan, so maybe the pendulum will swing back.

What three words describe you best... in your view and according to others?

Reasonably honest (I’ve told clients what they want to hear, usually that I'll chastise someone in the workshop although I knew they were swamped... so the odd white lie), considerate and, hopefully, kind

Looking back at your career, what one thing would you do differently if you had your time over? 

'd have liked to have worked for a company at the top of its game, which might have given me the business tools I lacked in the early days.

If you could sit down with anyone from the jewellery industry for a serious conversation, who would it be and what would you talk about?

The CEO of the London Bullion Market Association – we’d work out a plan to bring into line or exclude the bullion dealers of the world who persistently fail to toe the ethically sound line. I'd like regulatory companies like this to grow some teeth. It’s not good enough just to turn a blind eye.

Tell us something not many people know about you...

Aged 49, I climbed Mont Blanc from St Gervais with a great friend, and a husband-and-wife guide team, then skied off the summit.

You sat on a 2021 CIBJO Congress panel – what was the theme of the discussion?

‘The Language of Sustainable and Responsible Business in Jewellery.’ We concluded that we need to help new companies become better informed, while serial offenders and opportunists need to be brought into line. The NAJ has some great plans due to be launched next year for fledgling UK jewellers. However, there’s no helping the serial offenders; they just need to be exposed and let public opinion shut them down. Misinformation is a global problem; we should be encouraged to speak the truth, not be vilified just because it’s difficult to hear

If you could wave a magic wand, what would be the one thing that you would change about the jewellery industry? 

Creating a level playing field, enabling the quality and integrity of most companies to shine though. 

Outside of your family, what is your proudest moment to date?

It was being part of a team in 2012 that helped my friend Simon Cupitt (of Cupitt Jewellers) achieve his Land’s End to John O'Groats dream, albeit on motorcycles, him without speech and only one functioning leg, while suffering from motor neurone disease. He died in early 2013. 

Source: The Jeweller