- Goldsmiths to further elevate brand position with increased focus on luxury watch brands and ‘relaxed, inclusive and experiential’ in-store experience.
- New luxury store concept to be rolled out in major retail destinations from Autumn 2021.
- Dedicated areas for Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Tudor.
- Focus on customer experience centered around VIP rooms, luxury hospitality and digital browsing tools.
- Clients invited to feel ‘at home’.
- Complementary jewellery offering, featuring FOPE, Messika, Gucci, Jenny Packham and Mappin & Webb.
Later this year, the company will begin rolling out a dynamic new store design concept focused on luxury watch brands such as Rolex and Cartier, supported by a market-leading in-store client hospitality experience. The concept will present luxury watches and jewellery in a relaxed environment, providing customers the opportunity to go on an independent journey of self-discovery.
"This is a significant milestone for Goldsmiths, which has a well-earned reputation for offering UK customers trusted expert service and a fabulous presentation of brands. Luxury today has become far more relaxed, inclusive and experiential, so while we are elevating the Goldsmiths brand position, our goal is to make our valued clients feel at home whilst visiting our stores. Our ambition is for customers to have a memorable luxury experience that stays with them and their families long after they’ve made their purchase. We believe the repositioning and new store concept will transform not just the Goldsmiths profile and customer experience, but also bring fresh life to high streets in major towns and cities around the country following an extremely challenging period for in-person retail caused by the global coronavirus pandemic."
The new stores, which have been conceived in partnership with the award-winning UK-based design collective Quadrant Design, will marry contemporary luxury design with a relaxed atmosphere, and present customers with both in-store and digital browsing tools. Customers will find a welcoming, accessible environment where they are encouraged to enjoy and browse the space at their leisure.
The concept will initially be rolled out in major retail hubs, including Manchester’s Trafford Centre, Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, Meadowhall in Sheffield, Canterbury, Reading and Leicester. Each will have dedicated areas for brands such as Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Breitling, Tudor, IWC, Hublot and Panerai. These will sit alongside an open, flexible layout with VIP areas and hospitality bars where customers will be able to enjoy a curated food and beverage experience and consider their purchases in absolute comfort.
The light, uncluttered spaces will be beautifully appointed with a neutral palette of luxurious materials such as white-washed oak timber, white terrazzo and blackened steel. Visual architectural forms will include repeating vertical lines and soft curves inspired by the Goldsmiths logo. The overall effect will be calm but dynamic, presenting a contemporary setting in which to browse the world’s most beautiful watches, as well as a complementary jewellery offering from brands such as FOPE, Messika, Gucci, Jenny Packham and Goldsmiths sister brand Mappin & Webb.
The move comes as part of Goldsmiths’ continual evolution. Founded in Newcastle in 1778, the company has a long tradition of being synonymous with high-end luxury. In 1919, it became one of the country’s first official Rolex stockist, beginning a relationship that continues more than a century later. Investment in the UK store network over the last decade has elevated Goldsmiths beyond the competition and made it the market leader. This next evolution gives that journey fresh impetus and will differentiate Goldsmiths from its market competitors for years to come.
