Fresh from winning the award for Best Family Business at the Cork Business Awards, Neville Jewellers was selected as CMJ Retailer of the Month for March. We talk to John Neville, Director of Neville Jewellers, which has five stores in Ireland, to find out more about what makes the business so special.

Tell us about your business and what you specialise in.

Neville Jewellers is a proud family-owned business, combining the expertise of a jeweller and a retailer. These roles, while distinct, complement each other and enable us to provide a more holistic service. Jewellery is the cornerstone of our business, with watches playing a secondary yet important role. We take great pride in offering as many services in-house as possible, including repairs, valuations, and bespoke customisations.

How would you like to see Neville Jewellers grow in the next 12 months and beyond?

Operating five stores across Cork and Limerick, we continuously reinvest in our locations to enhance our customers’ experience. This year, we are redesigning our Limerick store to align with the aesthetic and functionality of our other locations. Retail is evolving into a self-selection model, where customers prefer to browse at their own pace before engaging with our team. Our new store layout is designed to reflect this shift, ensuring an inviting and seamless shopping experience.

Can you explain more about the award you won?

This award celebrates family-owned businesses in the Cork region, recognising their vital contribution to the local economy. SMEs are the backbone of both national and local enterprises, and family businesses approach growth with a long-term perspective rather than short-term gain. This philosophy hopefully enables us to provide a superior level of service and build lasting relationships with our customers.

Why do you consider it important to enter awards like this?

Awards like these highlight the significance of family-run businesses in Cork City. As major chains and online retailers continue to dominate the market, independent family businesses face increasing challenges. Preserving these enterprises is essential, as they take a future-focused approach that prioritises community and personal service.

How do you get involved in your local community, and how does it benefit your business?

Our commitment to the community is reflected in our involvement with various local clubs and initiatives. One of our most cherished collaborations is our title sponsorship of the Opera House Christmas Panto. This spectacular event aligns seamlessly with our core family values, bringing joy to audiences during the festive season. After all, who doesn’t love a good Panto!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Patience—simple, yet often underestimated.

What do you think is the secret to running a successful independent jewellery retail business?

The key lies in personalised service and long-term customer relationships. We have had the privilege of serving multiple generations within families, with grandchildren of previous customers returning to purchase engagement rings and other jewellery. Trust is the foundation of this industry — it takes decades to build and can be lost in an instant.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities and challenges currently facing independent retail, specifically in the jewellery trade?

I feel that the significant developments are the rise of lab-created diamonds, the escalating price of gold and the lack of specific education or interest from the next generation in these amazing family businesses.

Lab-created diamonds present both an opportunity and a challenge, particularly for the engagement ring market. Their affordability and durability open new possibilities for customers who want a lasting and high-quality piece without the premium price of mined diamonds.

Gold prices are detangling our industry from that of costume jewellery, allowing us a greater opportunity to show the intrinsic value of our pieces.

If we don’t have systems in place to allow the next generation of people to professionally and responsibly take over these businesses, we are threatening our own industry. We all work in an amazing sector and running your own business in the industry is a privilege and an amazing career. We should not hide our light under a bush but advertise the fact that this way life is a truly long-term opportunity.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the CMJ?

The CMJ is an organisation dedicated to supporting the independent retailer jeweller, helping level the playing field against larger chains in the UK and Ireland. The concept that “Together we are stronger” has never been more relevant, especially as the industry navigates challenges such as market pressures, rising material costs, and the ever-evolving consumer landscape.