The Jeweller Summer '22: Member Profile - Fattorinis, Phoenix from the Ashes
06 Jul 2022
We speak to Wayne Beales about his bold decision to take on an almost two-century-old iconic family-run jewellery store in Harrogate.
Please tell us the history of A. Fattorini (as it was then known).
A Fattorini takes its name from its founder, Antonio Fattorini. He was born in Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. After migrating to England in 1815 around the time of the Battle of Waterloo, he headed for Dewsbury, a town with a reputation for pedlars and itinerant salesmen. In a few years, he’d progressed from selling goods, including jewellery, off the back of his donkey to owning a jewellery shop in the newly built Central Market in Leeds. In 1831, having married Maria Broni, Antonio opened his shop, A Fattorini, in Harrogate, and in 1846 opened another in Bradford. The Harrogate shop continued to thrive thanks to their daughter Maria Fattorini (one of 11 children), who married into the Tindall family. From that day, the business was owned and run by the Tindall family.
The last owner of the business was Anthony Tindall, who closed it when he retired. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, neither of his children had any desire to come into the business.
What prompted you to take on the business?
I knew it was going to be a challenge to resurrect the business – a phoenix from the ashes as it were – right at the tail end of the pandemic, but there wasn’t going to be a better opportunity to take over an iconic jewellery business with such customer loyalty and a reputation second to none. I was also blessed with key members of staff from the previous business wanting to work with me on the new project.
When did you start at A Fattorini and have you always worked in the jewellery business?
My personal journey with A Fattorini began in 2001 when I joined as manager, working closely with co-owners Anthony and his brother Charles, who sadly passed away in 2016. Before joining A Fattorini, I worked for the Goldsmiths Group as it was then, for 21 years. So, wow! I suppose that’s over 40 years… how time flies!
Why did you decide to change the name to Fattorinis?
Going from A Fattorini to Fattorinis was a subtle but significant change. We didn’t want to lose the iconic name, but we wanted to show our customers we are prepared to refresh, modernise and move with the times. Coupled with that, our customers all know us as ‘Fattorinis’ despite the name above the door being A Fattorini. It all ties in with our philosophy of the same but different.
Have you changed the store?
We’ve had a fairly significant makeover, without the expense of a full ground-up shop re-fit. So, new window displays, new lighting, carpets, wedding area and a new, fresher colour scheme. We’re still working with most of our previous suppliers and have several new relationships with brands such as Shaun Leane and Bloch Diamonds. By the time this is published, we’ll have an e-commerce website, too.
How has the town responded to this move?
The reaction in Harrogate and beyond to the store reopening has been overwhelmingly positive. As is so often the case, I don’t think we really knew what we had until it was gone. Customers were genuinely upset – dare I say, in some cases, devastated – when news broke of the retirement sale. Many were encouraging me to take over the business, even recommending ways I might fund it! A very humbling experience.
What prompted you to join the NAJ? How do you intend to benefit from membership?
One of the easiest decisions was to join the NAJ. Based on Honesty, Integrity and Professionalism, it has the same values for which we stand. We’ve already enrolled one of the newer members of staff on one of the many educational training courses available, which ultimately benefits them and the new business.
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Source: The Jeweller