Business bucks national trend with new shops opening through county
AJEWELLERY business is bucking the national high street trend by expanding instead of closing.
In April 2021, in the midst of the global pandemic, Kim Hambleton decided to see if there was a market for her jewellery in Cornwall, opening a hut on Porthleven’s harbourside as a seven-month seasonal trial.
It proved successful, and she opened her Just Lily jewellery, homeware and gift shop in Mousehole in February 2022.
That was followed in October the same year by a second shop in Porthleven, and a third in Church Street in Falmouth in May 2023.
Now she’s opened another, in St
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For me it’s always been about not watching or worrying about what others are doing but focusing on what works for us
Ives, in time for the holiday season.
“We opened at the start of February this year and it’s been amazing”, Kim said.
“We have a lot of people through the door and so many wonderful comments from happy customers.
“All our stores are doing well. We’ve had a lot of support from customers who live in Cornwall and, of course, our visitors to the county.”
Kim now employs 23 staff between the four shops and has husband Simon on the payroll too, providing business and finance advice.
“We have an amazing team at Just Lily”, she said. “We couldn’t have grown as a business so quickly without them.
“Our products are sourced by myself. There’s a story behind every item in our shops.
“Small, independent businesses like us buy beautiful products from many talented illustrators and our fabulous jewellery collection is all from independent makers.
“I opened Just Lily out of the sheer frustration with repeat products on offer in Cornwall which weren’t particularly good-quality.
“I wanted a business that had a different offering.”
The shops don’t just open for the tourist season but trade, with local staff, even in the depths of winter. As for the future, Kim’s adamant it’s just the beginning.
“For me it’s always been about not watching or worrying about what others are doing but focusing on what works for us and what’s right for our business”, she said.
“It’s about being different: and, yes, we have more shops planned for the future. We’re in talks on a location right now.”