CW Sellors on the hunt
Derbyshire jewellery company CW Sellors has told Insider it is on the hunt for market town locations to expand into. The business, which currently operates 11 boutiques across the UK, is looking for sites "away from the frustrations of city centre shopping".
Founded by Chris Sellors in 1979, the Ashbourne-based business supplies its gemstone products to its own retail outlets and more than 300 independent jewellery outlets across the UK. It also exports the products overseas.
"We are keen to explore more overseas opportunities," said Sellors. "We attend trade shows such as the 'Gem and Jewellery Exchange' show in Tuscon, Arizona each year, which helps expand our client base in America, and we've had a lot of interest in our products from emerging markets like Japan."
The company, which specialises in producing British gemstones like Derbyshire Blue John and Whitby Jet, said it was looking to grow and develop the business "wherever possible".
"All our retail boutiques are found in convenient market town locations, purposely situated," said Sellors. "We take the opportunities to expand as we find them as many market towns host long-standing businesses, away from the frustrations of city centre shopping.
"We are looking to grow – be it by acquiring new properties or capitalising on the assets currently owned, as we did with our North Yorkshire boutiques by creating holiday accommodation and a tea room in the unused upper levels of the buildings."
He added that the company was continuing to expand its 80-strong workforce over the coming years.
CW Sellors currently operates four shops and a head office in Derbyshire, a boutique in Shropshire and six boutiques, a tea room and three holiday lets in Yorkshire.
"There is no real end to the opportunities open for the business," said Selllors. "Our products are received extremely well in Derbyshire and Yorkshire, where the natural source of our products lies, and, due to the unique stones we use, our brand is well received across the globe. We'd like to grow internationally and at home – whenever the opportunity arises."
