A Career at Boodles
Boodles have always stood out from the crowd.
We are regarded as the most inspiring independent brand in the UK by the British jewellery trade, and we have a passion for quality and innovative design.
We started out with one shop in Liverpool and we now have shops in London, Chester, Manchester, Dublin and Liverpool, as well as concessions in Harrods, the Savoy Hotel and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.
It has been a long and exciting journey – our heritage stretches back more than 200 years – and we would not be where we are now without the dedicated, dynamic people who have worked for us during that time.
We have grown as a business, but our ideals have not changed in two centuries. We remain family-owned and run, with a team of directors who are entrepreneurial, people-focused and fully involved in the business.
Our Boodles culture is one of honesty and trustworthiness, and we employ like-minded people who share our values of integrity, drive, passion and commitment. In return, we invest heavily in training and personal development, and offer an induction plan and mentoring programme, good opportunities for career progression and competitive salary packages.
Each employee also benefits from our charitable giving scheme, whereby staff can take up to three days paid leave each year to undertake charity work. They can also nominate a charity of their choice to receive a donation of £200.
We are always looking for motivated, engaging salespeople and welcome applicants with relevant experience.
Jewellery qualifications such as Jet 1, Jet 2 and GIA are useful, but not a pre-requisite. For the right person, we are willing to fund training to attain these qualifications. Designers must have a minimum 2:1 design degree from a top design institution.
Each shop has a Manager, Assistant Manager and Sales and Administration staff. Boodles departments include Design, Production, E-Commerce, Merchandising, Display, PR, Accounts, HR, IT, Workshop and General Support.
If you think you have what it takes to join the Boodles team, please upload your CV here. We will get in touch with you should we require you to come in for an interview.
Case study: Tiggy Brown
Position: Manager, Savoy store
Joined Boodles: 2003
Did you always want to work for a fine jeweller?
No. I always wanted to be an actress. I studied English Literature and Drama, at Leeds University, and then trained at LAMDA. However, when I was at school and university, I spent my Saturdays and holidays working at a lovely family jewellers in Sevenoaks, Kent called Michael Whitcombe. This gave me such a strong foundation in terms of customer service and basic jewellery knowledge.
What first attracted you to Boodles?
I was first attracted to Boodles after spending time talking to the staff. I was attracted to the atmosphere and the various dimensions of the job.
Describe how your career progressed at Boodles
I started as a part-time member of staff, doing anything from meeting and greeting customers to office administration. I gained lots of experience from working at all the different London shops in various capacities and watching how each store operated. I then worked as a full-time sales consultant in Sloane Street for three years, where I developed a good client base, before moving to become the assistant manager at Bond Street. This was a big step, but was a fantastic place to learn.
Under the guidance of the Manager I became competent at managing a team of sales people while continuing to enjoy selling and developing customer relationships. I was then given the responsibility of opening a new store at the Savoy Hotel in October 2010. This was yet another learning curve as it was a completely new trading environment for Boodles. It was the first time we had operated a shop in a hotel, and the location required a completely different approach. Setting up a new shop, and effectively a new business, has been a fantastic experience, and the location has provided us with some exciting opportunities and contacts, which have been hugely rewarding.
Describe your average day.
The average day always begins with dressing the windows and ensuring that the store looks luxurious and welcoming. We then have a morning meeting. After that I read through my emails to see if any stock movements need actioning, or if I need to respond to any customers’ questions. Large parts of the day are spent with customers or guests browsing in the hotel, and it is lovely to chat to people and introduce them to the brand, especially if they are international guests who are unfamiliar with Boodles. I also spend time speaking to the staff at our workshops, to ensure that any repairs or special orders are on track, so that I can update customers accordingly. We are currently organising an in-store exhibition and dinner, so I have been liaising with the Savoy regarding the menu and flowers. The day is always very unpredictable because we never know who will walk in the door and what they will want, but that is what I love about it!
What opportunities have you been given at Boodles?
I have been given fantastic opportunities in terms of sales and management training both on a group and one-to-one basis. I have been given exposure to all aspects of the business, which has helped me to, hopefully, be a more rounded employee who has a grasp of various aspects of the business. I have been given the opportunity to experiment with ideas and my ideas have always been considered.
Describe the Boodles culture.
The Boodles culture is very personal. This is a result of it being a family business that is founded on a passion for jewellery. Boodles care about the brand, the staff and their customers, and this is, hopefully, evident in the customer service. As a result, the staff are naturally hard-working, dedicated, and in tune with each other.
How does Boodles look after its staff?
Boodles seem to attract a certain type of staff, who are hard-working, but also have a sense of fun. Boodles look after their staff, and take a personal interest in their employees, which makes us feel appreciated. The directors take time to write to us personally. There are annual awards, as well as monthly awards. Managers enjoy an annual meeting abroad, and staff are treated to parties and events in the summer and at Christmas, which encourages staff at different shops to socialise together.
If you could swap places with another Boodles employee for the day, who would it be and why?
It would probably be the head designer Rebecca Hawkins. To experience a day in her creative shoes would be fascinating, but also pretty tricky. I wouldn’t know where to begin when it came to designing something, but that would be a complete contrast to what we do on a daily basis!
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for a job at Boodles?
Be prepared to do anything and everything and to learn all aspects of the business. Also be prepared to often work anti-social hours, for evening events and weekends to prove that you are dedicated. You need a natural flair for talking to all kinds of different people and you can't be shy. A passion for jewellery helps, but is not essential as this will come once you are surrounded by the amazing jewellery Boodles designs and creates! An aptitude for learning and a good memory for pieces of jewellery, prices and customers is key! As well as a natural sense of style!
Describe Boodles in five words.
Dynamic, social, challenging, personal, varied.
Case study: Paul Reader
Position: Senior Sales Consultant, Sloane Street boutique
What first attracted you to Boodles?
Boodles was the only place to purchase a piece of fine jewellery in Manchester, which is where I am from, so when an opportunity arose to join the company, I jumped at it. Boodles Manchester is on King Street, which is the finest shopping street in the city centre. Everyone in retail should aspire to work there.
How has your career progressed at Boodles?
I used to work in management for other companies, but I decided to take a different direction with Boodles. My role is very much in sales and developing the business in the Sloane Street store. It has worked out really well for me, and I have grown hugely in the process.
Describe your average day.
My working day starts on the 7.18am train, when I read The Times to catch up on the news and sport. I arrive at work about 8.30am, when we start to set up the store for the day’s trading. Sadly, everything has to come out of the windows each night, so the morning is spent putting it all back in.
At 10am, we have a communications meeting, which gives the team the chance to discuss the events for that day over a nice cup of tea and the legendary Sloane Street boiled egg on toast (yes, every day).
After the meeting, I check emails and prioritise my diary. We take it in turns to do the serving and, hopefully, it is a busy day. If I’m lucky, I get to take a customer out for lunch. Working in Knightsbridge, we are spoilt because there are so many amazing restaurants. We start thinking about taking the windows out towards the end of the day, and at about 5.30pm we start to pack down (sometimes with a glass of red, if it has been a particularly good day).
What opportunities have you been given at Boodles?
Working for Boodles has been full of fantastic opportunities. Moving to London has been the biggest opportunity. I love Manchester and I am very proud to be from the North West, but I now call London home.
For the jewellery business, London is one of the best places in the world to be. I travel to Switzerland at least twice a year to visit the Basel jewellery fair and Geneva, where I take customers to the factory and museum. I have also been lucky enough to be invited to a couple of customers' weddings in Florence and Monaco. Working in Knightsbridge is also very special. I never tire of being in such a fabulous area of London.
What qualities does Boodles look for in its salespeople?
Integrity, professionalism, a good work ethic, self-motivated, driven and, most of all, a good sense of humour. It also helps if you can sell jewellery every now and then!
Describe the culture at Boodles.
Boodles are a very family-orientated company and everybody is well known to all the directors. A lot of people see Boodles as a large company, but in reality it is quite small, with about 100 employees. Everybody tends to know each other, and you will speak to a good proportion of them throughout the week.
In January, Boodles hold the annual Christmas party, normally in a nice hotel and spouses and partners are invited. All employees are encouraged to visit the other stores and there are numerous training days throughout the year, all of which are great opportunities to meet up. I would say that Boodles have a work hard, play hard mentality.
If you could swap places with another Boodles employee for the day, who would it be and why?
I would love to swap with Nicholas Wainwright and encourage the company to be even bolder with its expansion plans. Then I would open a store in Florida – and send myself there to set it up!
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for a sales position at Boodles?
Do your research. If you know somebody in the jewellery industry, ask them about Boodles and what they know/have heard. Boodles is a member of Walpole an organisation that represents the interests of the British luxury industry. It also has a very good website. Be honest and open, and be yourself.
Describe Boodles in five words.
British, integrity, family, quality, service.
Case study: Lorna Fay Shaw
Position: Designer
Joined Boodles: 2010
Graduate in 2009
When did you decide you wanted to be a jewellery designer?
I’ve always been a magpie for things that sparkle. At 6 I was obsessed with collecting stickers and they always had to be the dazzling, shimmery, sparkly kind! Throughout art college I was constantly attracted to colour and glamorous fashion designers such as Christian Lacroix, so for me the decision came when choosing my degree and creative future. Jewellery design involves all the things I love: glamour, colour and sparkle.
What first attracted you to Boodles?
I was in awe of their passion for creating stunning Wonderland pieces that are destined to inspire and excite generation after generation.
Describe your average day.
Every day is different and offers a new creative challenge, from working on more cutting-edge elements of the brand to trend research to kick-start a new creative journey, allowing me to explore new ideas for collections and one-off pieces. A different day can mean designing pieces exclusively for one-of-a-kind gemstones that have just arrived or collaborating with the workshops to refine that all-important detail on a piece in the making.
How do you see your career progressing at Boodles?
To progress as a designer at Boodles I am focused on producing collections that push the boundaries beyond tradition and bring a new dynamic to the brand.
What opportunities have you been given during your time at Boodles?
The most memorable opportunity for me was a trip to Hong Kong, where I was able to meet with suppliers and take in the beauty and culture of such an inspiring city. Other fantastic opportunities have been our yearly trip to Basel for the jewellery and watch show and working with jaw dropping stones such as a 37ct deep ocean blue sapphire.
How does Boodles look after its employees?
At Boodles we know how to have fun with fantastic parties, employee of the month and wonderful shows across the country for staff and clients to enjoy.
If you could swap places with another Boodles employee for the day, who would it be and why?
I would love to swap and work in PR so I could fly out to a secret location and take part in a new ad campaign photo shoot.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for a job at Boodles.
Above all, be yourself. We are a company based on traditional values. and you have to have a passion for beautifully designed and crafted fine jewellery.
Boodles in five words:
Passionate. Charming. Feminine. Elegant. Timeless.
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