Harriet Kelsall: Creating a successful jewellery business
Harriet Kelsall is one of the most respected bespoke designers and business trailblazers working in the UK jewellery industry today. She is the 2016 HSBC Forward Ladies “Retail Business Woman of the year”, was Everywoman’s “Retail Woman of the Year” in 2011, one of The Institute of Directors magazine’s six “women who have most changed the business world” in 2014 and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and of the City of London.
Harriet founded her business from her kitchen table in 1998 – Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery - in 1998 and since then it has grown to be one of the most respected UK jewellery companies with many national and international awards to its name, most recently the 2020 Bespoke Jeweller of the Year award. The company also achieved a highly commended at the 2020 Inspiring Independents Awards – celebrating retail excellence in the face of adversity. As an innovator, Harriet has revolutionised design within the jewellery industry, triggering an explosion in bespoke jewellery with her “Real design for the High Street” concept store in central Cambridge.
As a champion for ethics, the environment and CSR, she joined an industry where few cared about such matters. Since then she has tirelessly campaigned for improvement – in 2011 she helped launch Fairtrade Gold worldwide and her business became the first in the world to be both Fairtrade licensed and certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council..
Harriet speaks up about equality for women within the workplace and diversity on boards and also about maternity issues for entrepreneurs. She was also the Deputy Chair of the National Association of Jewellers and a non executive director for both the Responsible Jewellery Council and the British Hallmarking Council. She is a regular keynote speaker on ethics and CSR, advised the government on jewellery skills as part of the Creative and Cultural Skills Academy and speaks nationally and internationally about responsible business.
Harriet is passionate about helping creative business flourish and has written a book about how to start one called “The Creative's Guide to Starting a Business: How to turn your talent into a career” which won at the 2019 Business Book of the Year Awards. She mentors other creative start-ups and as a successful dyslexic, she is an inspiration to others whose talents lie in creativity.
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Watch my full video interview with Harriet Kelsall on YouTube. We have an interesting conversation you don't want to miss!
I will be featuring another special guest soon. Don't miss out!
Speak soon,
Kassandra xx
