Sparkles and fizz at grand opening of newly transformed Petra Jewellery!
Petra Jewellery has just celebrated the grand opening of its brand new shop. Well over 100 customers joined owners and staff for a glass of bubbly at the newly refurbished building and a personal tour of 'where the magic happens'.
The family business hasn’t moved far. Having been working from a small converted stable building it was time for the growing team to stretch its wings, remaining at Viables Craft Centre and moving just around the corner to The Cottage, which is around six times the size of the old shop.
The new shop features a wonderfully bright showroom and charming open plan area where customers can browse the beautiful jewellery collections at their leisure. Upstairs houses the new ‘Creative Suite’ designed to feel like ‘home’ and an on-site workshop where jewellery can be repaired or cleaned while you wait.
“It’s been a busy build-up to this special day. We signed the lease in February and took on the refurbishment of the near derelict 100 year old Farm Cottage straight away. We employed a brilliant team of local contractors who gradually breathed new life into the charming building and dedicated friends and family worked really hard to help get everything ready for our grand opening.”
“The party was a perfect way to celebrate with many of our fabulous customers coming along from far and wide to join us and reminisce with mum, who originally opened the shop 35 years ago. We shared some really special moments.”
Petra, who turns 70 next year, started the family business in 1979, not long after the Viables Farm was converted into the Viables Craft Centre. After starting with just her apprenticeship pieces in the showcase, Petra gradually grew her stock and her customer base too. Beverly, one of Petra’s longstanding customers travelled from Devon to join the celebrations and personally thank Petra. Having had her engagement and wedding rings made in 1980, this year Beverly won Petra Jewellery’s ‘Win an Eternity Ring’ competition on Facebook with her most romantic love story. It’s a real family affair as her daughter, Caroline has also just had her wedding rings made by Petra Jewellery too.
The family feeling runs right through the heart of the business. Marketing Assistant, Amber’s grandmother came along to see the transformation for herself – she lived in The Cottage when she was 17 year’s old. It was still a working farm when she was pregnant with Amber’s Mum!
The party atmosphere went on all day and live music was performed by an anonymous gentleman 'singing for his supper’, saving towards a bespoke engagement ring which is being designed by Mitch to look like a key. His identity will remain a secret until the lucky lady has said yes!
The celebrations just keep coming as Mitch adds, “We’ve got one last celebratory event this summer - our Tour De France Family Fun Bike Festival on Saturday 25th July from 3-7pm, so if you missed our grand opening you can join us at this event instead. We’ll be offering free ring cleaning, the chance to win VIP hospitality tickets for the Tour of Britain, raising money for St. Michael’s Hospice and bike competitions with Festina watches as prizes. Another fabulously fun event to enjoy!
BASINGSTOKE GAZETTE, 23 JULY 2015