Don't sleep on it - Buy our new pillow packs today!

Our new Miss Milly branded Pillow Packs are now available to buy online at missmilly.co.uk. As a new brand in the UK wholesale jewellery marketplace we are always looking for ways to be different so we have designed and produced our very own packaging, we hope you like it.

These Pillow Packs are available in two sizes, small and mini.

The Small Pack is perfect for necklaces and larger bracelets and measures 130mm x 70mm x 20mm. On sale at £0.40 per unit.

The Mini Pack is perfect gift packaging for earrings, rings, small bracelets and chain necklaces and measures 70mm x 70mm x 15mm. On sale at £0.35 per unit.

To buy your Miss Milly Jewellery packaging visit the Miss Milly jewellery store and use the search bar to find Mini Pillow Pack or Small Pillow Pack.

How much has your High Street changed over the last couple of years?

32 shops are closing every day in the UK according to the latest report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Wow…surely our High Streets can’t sustain this rate of closures?

But is this all bad news for independent retailers? Well, reference the footfall and the appeal of our town centres and high streets up and down the country it is a major worry. The simple truth of the matter is that less people are shopping in towns. Partly due to cheaper (or free) out of town parking and the convenience of big superstores where you can buy all you need under one roof but also due to the online shopping revolution.

However, if you are an independent retailer your customers generally come to you simply because you are you. You are unique, you sell something different from the big stores and you can offer the customer something your largest competitors never will; a personal service. And this is particularly key at the this time of year as consumers gear up for Christmas. So make the most of your window space and keep an eye on current trends.

On a positive note, if you are looking to expand your current business, or start a new one, there are probably plenty of vacant premises in your area. Some of these will be in good locations, perhaps a better location than your current shop, which might be worth snapping up as this recession can’t last forever, right? And whilst we are in a downturn, you are in a better position to haggle with landlords who don't want empty properties on which they still have to pay rates. If you can't get the rent down enough, go for rent free periods whilst you fit the shop and establish your business. Six month's to a year's free rent is not as rare as you may think. Or try to get the rent staggered over the lease period, with an annual increase over time as you grow your business. And don't forget to build a break clause in to your lease as a safety barrier.

If you are a multi-channel retailer and you have a bricks and mortar shop as well as an online store (shame on you if you have not) this most definitely helps your reach as far as winning new customers is concerned, and allows customers stumbling across your physical store to keep buying from you wherever they may live. But you do need to make sure your online offering is engaging to the browser and being found by search engines.

Now is a crucial time, more than ever, to make sure your e-commerce store is as good as it can be. As a UK wholesale jewellery supplier selling 90% of our stock online we know the importance of getting your online offering right. With a good selection of products as well as easy navigation, good product information and nice images we know by feedback from our customers that the Miss Milly store is engaging and easy to use.

As a new brand in the UK wholesale jewellery marketplace we also know that we need to be found on Google. That’s why we have worked just as hard on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) as we have on the design of our store. The Miss Milly jewellery store launched just over six weeks ago and we are already in the top ten on Google for the key phrase wholesale costume jewellery UK.

So my tip to you: if you are looking to invest in your future, invest in good e-commerce web design and effective SEO and hang on in there; business and life are cyclical. Independent retailers will help to revive our High Streets if they take charge of their destiny and reach out positively to consumers in all the ways they can. x

Armswag is the new 'bling' thing

Armswag is trending right now, have you heard of it?

Simply stack a pile of bracelets along your arm and create your very own armswag. Mix and match colours, material and styles to create your very own look that is unique to you.

Chop and change your stack to suit your outfit with this hot new fad. Join the army of wrist-candy lovers and get your bling on.

As a UK wholesale jewellery supplier we are always watching the trends for the seasons ahead.

Check out our online jewellery store to stock up on your costume bracelets. 

Fashion Guru tip for SS 13

As a UK wholesale jewellery supplier we are always watching the trends for the seasons ahead. We have had insider knowledge from our people in the know that orange is going to be popular for Spring & Summer 2013.

Our new ‘on trend’ ranges for Spring & Summer 2013 are being lovingly made as we write. The picture above shows a piece of orange jewellery from the Miss Milly brand new Harmony Collection, a beautiful balance of natural stone and manmade stainless steel.

This contemporary jewellery comes in a great range of colours, not only orange, and will be available in January from Miss Milly's online jewellery store.

50% Mega Sale now on

  

50% Mega Sale now on

Jewellery at silly prices

For one week only we are having a huge sale of 50% off all jewellery in the Sale section. Already discounted to great value prices, the extra 50% off runs from now until midnight on Sunday 21st October. The wholesale price that you see is the price you will pay.

All orders will be picked strictly in the order received so should an item have sold out, we will replace it with another piece of the same or greater value.

TAKE ME TO THE SALE

Happy Crystalmas!

Happy Crystalmas!

-       New brand offers affordable, quality jewellery -

Following a fantastic reception to the new Miss Milly brand at Autumn Fair, the company’s crystal jewellery ranges have been going down a storm.

As the festive party season approaches and thoughts turn to Christmas shopping, retailers are adding shine to their product displays. Miss Milly’s Carmen Collection has an abundance of sparkle with popular heart pieces and excellent value bracelets (priced from just £2.00), which are currently topping retailers’ wish lists.

The company’s Floria Collection uses crystals to add sparkle to colourful and elegant jewellery. Feedback at the Autumn Fair was dominated by retailers looking for colour and the Floria Collection offers this in abundance.

Miss Milly focuses on affordable, quality jewellery and the full range can be seen online at www.missmilly.co.uk. Retailers need to register online to view trade prices and once their account is set up, they can add products to a wish list to share with colleagues or order at a later date, as well as having access to previous orders.

The minimum order is just £50, perfect for Christmas top-ups, and there are no minimum order quantities. With a fast order turnaround, you could add sparkle to your display quickly and easily. Call Miss Milly on 01905 612955 or email hello@missmilly.co.uk.

Affordable Websites for Independent Retailers

Free trial of e-commerce solution

Multi-channel commerce is increasingly important and relevant for independent retailers, especially at this time of year when many consumers turn to the Internet to do their Christmas shopping. But without expertise and knowledge, building an e-commerce website can be a minefield as you struggle to find an option that best suits your business, let alone one that is affordable.

With many years experience in designing websites, Kevin Flannigan has set up a 30 day free trial for independent retailers looking to test the water for a new or improved site. The trial also gives you the opportunity to see how much you can do yourself, and how much help you need to get started. The trial uses Magento Go, a scaleable e-commerce package that includes hosting and technical support.

Magento is an open source e-commerce web application that was launched in 2008. At the start of 2012 it had surpassed 4 million downloads worldwide. In fact, the software is so good, in 2010 eBay announced it had made an investment in Magento and by 2011 it owned the software outright.

Magento Go is a streamlined version of Magento. It's trusted by more than 125,000 businesses worldwide and offers the power and flexibility of Magento at a price that every business can afford. The beauty of Magento Go is the fact that it's a totally scaleable, hosted e-commerce solution. In times of austerity, having a scaleable 'one stop shop' that can be amended very quickly is a great way to control costs.

Kevin recently built and launched the website for Miss Milly, a new supplier of affordable, quality jewellery, and has also worked extensively on retail websites for the fashion, health and beauty industries.

“Miss Milly wanted a reliable platform that showcased its products beautifully with good search facilities whilst also being straightforward to use,” explains Kevin. “Even though the company is a wholesaler, it wanted to have an aesthetic retail feel, which I think we’ve achieved.”

Once you have played around with the trial website, if you wish to go ahead and develop it further, there are different options available from just £9.99 per month. And you will not be left on your own as Kevin offers a variety of design and e-commerce support packages from helping with new branding and logos suitable for online use, to building a website optimised for search engines, setting up a payment provider, and pre and post launch training and support.

With the www.missmilly.co.uk website now live since late August, the company’s managing director, Sarah Watmore, is delighted with the functionality. “Kevin was hugely supportive, creative and proactive throughout the design, development and launch process. He really understood our brief and took a real interest in the business, which has resulted in a fantastic showcase for Miss Milly.

“And with his help, hard work and advice, it has only taken us six weeks to reach page one on Google search for our priority key phrase.”

To start your no risk 30 day free trial, go to www.kevflannigan.co.uk/trial or contact Kevin on 07813 206786 or by email to info@kevflannigan.co.uk for further information or design and project management quotes.

Black and white - a major trend for Autumn & Winter

Black and white has been highlighted as a major trend for Autumn & Winter. A timeless and classic combination, it can be achieved in several ways:

Layering single colour pieces of jewellery, such as our CB24 and CB26 Carmen Bracelets.

Combining pure black jewellery with a white outfit or vice versa. Try a classic piece of ivory jewellery, like the N74 Flower Collar, with a little black dress.

Or by choosing a black and white piece of jewellery, such as the Floria FN26 Daisy Necklace with FE26 matching earrings, or the CN41 Carmen Crystal Flower Collar in Hematite.