Here at Widd Signs, we’re incredibly proud of our long-standing heritage which dates all the way back to 1888. And just as we’ve supported Marks and Spencer, one of the country’s oldest retailers which formed in Leeds just before Widd, we have a similar successful history in supporting the shining family-run business, Berry’s Jewellers which dates all the way back to 1897, also beginning in our home city of Leeds.
We’ve worked with Berry’s since the 1970s initially supporting the signage when it moved its top-high-quality retail store jewellers from its initial home on Bond Street, Leeds to its existing Albion Street, Leeds store.
To date, there are three generations of the original family business based from the Leeds headquarters and we met up with head of operations Simon Oxby who confirmed there are now 13 Berry’s stores boutiques in Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Nottingham and the historic Cities of York and Windsor.
We’re delighted to have provided the signage for several of the stores.
Berry’s Nottingham signage by Widd Signs
Over the last 12 months, we helped Berry’s Nottingham to create the signage for its new OMEGA showroom, adjacent to their existing store and we will be involved with a new, yet-to-be-announced watch brand Boutique in Leeds, which is due to open early 2024.
Nottingham’s store sits within a listed building so we followed strict guidance to ensure both beauty and practicalities were accomplished. We did this by supplying and installing push-through acrylic letters on folded aluminium panels, formed to fit into the intricate architecture of the building on Bridlesmith Gate. Omega and Berry’s panels were also created in their iconic branding. As part of this project, we produced and installed a new flag and pole to emblazon the outside facade.
We have also carried out work at their Berry’s Nottingham store to rebrand their internal jewellery display showcases.
The trilogy of Berry’s York stores are based on the beautiful cobbled streets of Stonegate in the heart of the city and the council had strict requirements about the aesthetics matching the surrounding environment. We supplied new hanging signage to replace and match the existing bracketry, working alongside traditional signwriter ‘Brian the Brush’ who created the handwritten signage for the shopfront of their #60 store, where the building has stood on that site since the 17th Century.
We have also recently completed internal rebrands of their jewellery display cases at its Windsor and Leeds Victoria Quarter stores.
Simon Oxby, head of operations at Berry’s comments:
“We try to support local companies wherever possible and it was great to travel just a short distance down Geldard Road and have the tour of the Widd factory. Meeting with Gary gave me a good feel for the business, he was very pleasant and they created some mock-ups which instantly impressed.
“Knowing Widd has a strong portfolio of clients with big retailers such as Primark on their books reassured me that the quality of products and service would be there and they haven’t disappointed.
“York’s ‘60s hanging signs’ are one of my personal favourites. The council wanted to make sure everything was in-keeping with the building and its environment and we were particularly impressed with Widd Signs’ work on that.”
“I’d definitely recommend Widd Signs to others. The friendliness of the staff, the speed with which they’re able to produce drawings or make amendments and the quality of the work is great and their pricing is keen as well.”
Even though Kay Dickson, our project administrator pied poor Simon during his ‘pie-athon’ charity challenge earlier this year (raising thousands for charity MIND), we’re very grateful to Simon and the whole team at Berry’s who put our trust in their retail signage and we look forward to many more successful years working together!
