We have introduced a business of the week article, highlighting a local, independent business featured on our local list.

This week it is Goldcrest Jewellers.

Neil and Donna Strudwick opened the shop in Hardye Arcade in 2010. Neil used to work for another company in Poole as a trainee goldsmith and getting the experience to be a trained goldsmith.

"My family were quite young at the time and I thought, I reckon I can take the leap and set myself up," Neil said.

"The council were really intrigued and welcomed us with open arms, having something like this in the town - a new business and trade coming into town."

Just after they opened, they received a very special letter.

Neil added: "Kate Middleton and Prince William got engaged and we offered our services to the palace because we make our own jewellery and wedding rings. So, we sent the letter off and didn't expect anything from it, then we got a letter back from Buckingham Palace, which said, 'we really like what you do, would you be interested in being shortlisted and your name put forward.

"I phoned up Buckingham Palace to say I had got the letter and they couldn't have been nicer."

Goldcrest Jewellers was one of four to be shortlisted and were even contacted again when Megan and Harry got engaged, asking to send designs.

"It was amazing," said Neil.

So, it's no surprise that Goldcrest Jewellers has won a number of awards. From 2015 to 2019 it has been a finalist in the Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards, winning it three times, won in the artisan category at the Dorchester and Poundbury Business Awards, as well as winning overall, named best family jewellers I the South West in the SME Southern Enterprise Awards and winner of the South West England jewellers of the year in the Prestige Awards.

Neil said: "During the pandemic, to win three awards was amazing because even though we were shut, it kept our morale up."

During the pandemic, they also delivered cakes to key workers, visiting hospitals, care homes, ambulance stations, police stations and more.

As well as selling jewellery and watches and offering a repair service, Neil also makes many of his own designs and can create commission pieces, and has received comments like 'it's better than I envisaged'.

Neil said: "People who have designed their own pieced, they can bring us the designs and we can work from that.

"Basically, with the technology that's available, the possibilities are endless."

He added: "I don't see it as a business, I see it as getting up in the morning and tinkering and playing and making jewellery as a hobby.

"When we envisaged all this years ago, we knew it would be hard work, we knew the stresses it would bring, but we've enjoyed doing it."

For more information, visit Goldcrest Jewellers on Facebook.

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