• Vend and the British Independent Retail Association (Bira) launch ‘Remarkable Retailers’ campaign to champion innovation among independent stores


• Bristol-based jewellery store Silver Scene is one of 14 businesses selected from a long list of over 1,000 retailers nationally

Silver Scene, the Broadmead-based jewellery shop , is among the 14 most innovative independent stores in the UK. Announced today in a campaign called ‘Remarkable Retailers’, Vend and the British Independent Retail Association (Bira) aim to champion success stories and underline 14 outstanding contributions to local high streets.

Handpicked from a long list of over 1,000 independent stores, Silver Scene’s designs are inspired by jewellery from the other side of the globe. The business was founded in 1999 by Trudi Northcott after she fell in love with the craftmanship of a jewellery maker in Ubud, Bali.

Silver Scene began as a workshop selling from a market stall in Corn Street Market, Bristol. Twenty years later it has five stores across the south of England and employs 15 people. A key component of this growth has been the roll-out of technology to simplify back-end processes across its stores, freeing up time so that Northcott and her co-founder, Marcus Pearce, could focus on creating beautiful jewellery.

Vend and Bira handpicked the independent stores for their stand-out approach to retail – whether that be a unique approach to the customer experience, their products or the way that they use technology. The full list can be found here.

Marcus Pearce, Co-founder and Director at Silver Scene said:

“We’re a small company but we think big, trade fair and love what we do. We take inspiration from other cultures, and it’s important each of our products are engraved with beautiful designs so that customers feel as though there is a story personal to them.”

Trudi Northcott, Co-founder and Director at Silver Scene adds:

“We’re proud to be recognised for our innovative approach to retail, and believe that technology has been fundamental in helping us to grow from one store to five. We also have an online business that enables us to sell our unique products all over the world.”

Higor Torchia, UK Country Manager at Vend said:

“These Remarkable Retailers differentiate themselves by their unique products and customer experiences, but are united by their innovative use of retail technology to support their success.

“Each retailer’s use of cloud-based software allows them to manage inventory on-the-go, as well as run clever reporting analytics that gain insight on customer loyalty and what’s selling well. It means the retailers have more time to focus on creating winning formulas to ensure that local high streets can thrive.”