Partner Article

Mark goes back to where it all began

AN innovate jewellery designer has taken his career full circle by taking over the business where he first learned his skills.

Mark Lloyd started his career as an apprentice at H Lamb in Hartlepool, learning the ropes from John Davey who ran the famous high end York Road jewellers after taking it over from Harry Lamb.

Now, after earning a reputation as one of the finest jewellery designers in the UK, Mark and his wife Michelle have agreed a deal to take over Lamb’s and run it alongside their existing business, Mobeus.

Mobeus, which was set up by Mark in 2004, has grown into an international business with the owner’s unique skills making him the first port of call for couples looking to buy bespoke wedding rings.

Mark, whose work has earned him membership to the much coveted Fellow Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (FIPG), has customers from around the UK and beyond and has even had success with the ring he designed for his own wedding going on to be a popular seller.

Michelle will work in the Lamb’s store alongside John - who will come in for two days a week - with Mark taking on more of a behind-the-scenes role to allow him to work on his ever-expanding order book for the Mark Lloyd Jewellery Collection.

Michelle said: “It is a very exciting time for us, and this really is an opportunity for us to take the business to the next level.

“Lamb’s is an institution in Hartlepool, it has been here many years and has built up a loyal base of customers going back through the years.

“It’s a common misconception that Lamb’s and Mobeus are rivals, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Mark started his career with Lamb’s under John’s guidance, and he views him as something of a mentor.

“Mobeus will remain as it is in Park Road, it’s more of a service and repairs based business, and Mark will be able to put all of his energies into what he does as a designer and craftsman.”

While Mark designs and creates the rings, Michelle has ambitious plans to make provide more of an “experience” for couples making the big decisions of choosing and designing their wedding rings.

She added: “When you think of a wedding, there is always a lot made over choosing the dress. Brides take their mother and friends, they make a day of it, and it is a real big thing.

“I understand that completely, but it always surprises me that rings are often just seen as routine, when in actual fact the ring is what the whole ceremony is about.

“The ring is a symbol of eternity, the dress is taken off at the end of the day and put away, the rings are there forever and I intend to make it a real VIP service for the customer.

“They can pick their own elements for the ring, from stones to precious metal, and then we can show them our workshop and how it will be crafted and created.

“There is always a story behind the rings we create, people bring us family heirlooms to work with, they are unique and often sentimental.

“There is always a story behind the rings we create, people bring us family heirlooms to work with, they are unique and often sentimental.

“We don’t want to give too much away at this stage, but we are confident we will be able to offer a unique service.”

For more information visit www.marklloydjewellery.co.uk or call 01429 273061.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ian Willis .