Tag: showroom

Hamilton & Inches showcase their greatest designs to celebrate 155yr anniversary

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Hamilton & Inches are set to celebrate handcrafted works from their 155-year history in their exciting new Celebrating our Craft exhibition in August.

Located at their recently renovated showroom in Edinburgh, the exhibition highlights the exceptional work of generations of artisans, the earliest piece dating back to 1887.

Amongst the collection of handcrafted items is a jewelled cover of JK Rowling’s handwritten The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Trophies celebrating The Scottish Open, the Royal Highland Show and Scottish Women’s Football will also be on display, alongside a further 70 items generously donated by businesses and customers alike.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was originally handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling as a limited edition of only seven copies, one of which was sold at auction in 2007 to raise money for charity.  It was then published in 2008 and continues to be sold in aid of J.K. Rowling’s children’s charity Lumos. 

Last year, the Edinburgh-based jewellers – which has held a Royal Warrant for over 120 years – launched a search for bespoke items created by its talented craftspeople to create an extensivedisplay featuring some of its greatest designs.

Home to an expert team of silversmiths and jewellers, Hamilton & Inches has created items for a wide array of clients including Archerfield, Diageo and more.

The intricate and luxurious creations will feature within this incredible display from the 26 August until 5 September at their beautifully reimagined showroom in central Edinburgh.

Victoria Houghton, Hamilton & Inches CEO, said: “One hundred and fifty-five years in business is a wonderful milestone to reach and we want to make sure we mark the occasion properly. Showcasing the pieces created by our extremely talented team and celebrating their craft is the perfect way to do so.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing the history behind the items featured within the Celebrating our Craft showcase.”

Bespoke commissions continue to be created in the workshops with experts utilising ancient skills and crafts to create beautiful, iconic items that will be remembered and celebrated forever.

Hamilton & Inches is committed to ensuring craftmanship is relevant to contemporary life, especially at a time when sustainability is of such importance. The Celebrating our Craft showcase will shine a light on the impact and reach of Hamilton & Inches and how important it is for the craft to continue throughout Scotland.

IOLLA announces new showroom opening in St James Quarter

Popular eyewear brand IOLLA are bringing local centre stage in the new St James Quarter, launching a new experiential showroom and standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names in retail.

IOLLA launched in 2015, introducing a better way to buy eyewear with their offering of complete prescription glasses and sunglasses for £75. Their mission is to help people look and feel great, empowering glasses wearers to build an eyewear wardrobe thanks to their diverse range of unique frame designs and affordable price point.

The Scotland-born local business is the latest retailer to confirm its opening in Edinburgh’s new £1.7bn city centre development St James Quarter set to open at the end of June.

IOLLA will be opening its fourth location across Edinburgh and Glasgow which will feature a new style of plug-and-play shelving stations, digital screens and modular podiums, brought to life with the help of local Edinburgh design studio Splintr.

Their new showroom design will feature a 360º interactive window display and movable podiums, designed to bring the experience to the customer, replacing traditional ‘checkout’ desks.

By putting technology, adaptability, and the customer at the centre of the new design, IOLLA hope to create a customer journey within their St James Quarter showroom that is unique, fun and memorable.

Stefan Hunter, IOLLA Founder, said: “Our new St James Quarter showroom will be the most enriched customer experience we’ve ever created. Visitors can discover and journey through our brand by using our new creative touchpoints like material and manufacturing displays and an interactive try on garden.

“The St James Quarter showroom is also our biggest yet, and will give us the opportunity to truly showcase our passion for great customer service, great products and a fair price.”

Martin Perry, Director of Development for St James Quarter added: “With the first phase opening of St James Quarter just weeks away, the addition of IOLLA will help further bolster the already formidable array of local and international brands St James Quarter has to offer as we look to build a diverse offering, including some national and city ‘firsts’, that will help create a one of a kind destination.”

Since opening its doors in 2015, IOLLA have been one to watch, paving the way for local retailers and shaking up the traditional optical industry with a direct to consumer approach and designing and manufacturing in their Glasgow headquarters. Despite a challenging year for retail, the brand continued to focus on its growth by; investing in its digital strategy, expanding its design and technology teams and this year will push to increase its overall workforce by 100%.

The opening of the new showroom is a landmark moment for IOLLA, allowing the brand to branch into new territory when it comes to retail expansion and in high footfall locations. 

This is the first step in an ambitious growth plan over the next 5 years for the innovative eyewear retailer, and it’s set to bring more eyes than ever to the IOLLA brand. Visit IOLLA in the St James Quarter from June 24th.

Apply now to be part of the IOLLA team at St James Quarter at jobs.iolla.com.