A former panel beater who swapped his hammers for diamonds 35 years ago is still working for the same jewellers.
Chrys James is just about to clock up three and a half decades with Ernest Jones Jewellers and is currently manager of their Wassail Square store in Swansea’s busy Quadrant Centre.
And according to Chrys, who admits he has a passion for watches, he definitely made the right decision moving from panel beating to jewellery sales.
He said: “I have had a wonderful career with Ernest Jones and can honestly say I have never once thought that the grass was greener somewhere else to be perfectly honest.
“The company is excellent to work for and I have a staff of 10 here at the Quadrant Centre that are both loyal and hugely experienced. My colleague Dianne Harris clocked up 35 years of service last year while most members of staff have been here a minimum of 10 years.
“I think that is why we have really not noticed a downturn, our loyal customers know we have the experience and expertise and that gives them confidence.
“We do have a great number of regular customers and we aim to give each and every one that special and personal customer service.
“You do build a relationship with customers and many of them have become customers for life.
“They buy jewellery and watches from us and then buy for their children’s 18th and 21st and then those children come to us for engagement and wedding rings which is really nice.”
Ian Kirkpatrick, Deputy Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: “It’s remarkable how many long-serving people who have here in the Quadrant and it must say something about what a nice place it is to work.
“Chrys is a real stalwart. He has been at the Quadrant Cenre for 20 years and he leads a really dedicated team at Ernest Jones – they must have well over 100 yuears of service with the company between them.”
Chrys says his years of working for Ernest Jones Jewellers has seen him manage stores far from his home at Godre’r Graig, near Swansea.
He said: “I actually started as a trainee in Cwmbran in 1977 and just six months later I was promoted to store manager in Cardiff.
“I then moved north to Oldham, then Rochdale, then Bolton and finally Huddersfield before returning to my Welsh roots here in Swansea 20 years ago.
“I was named store manager of the year in 1994, an honour I am very proud of, although I did move out of store management and took on other roles within the company.
“I have also worked as an area manager, re-fit co-ordinator and diamond business manager during my career.
“However, I decided to return to store management as that is where I am happiest. I love working in a small team and enjoy the interaction with our many regular customers.
“I have to say that the company is like one big happy family in truth and was named in the 2010 Sunday Times list as one of the top British companies to work for.
And Chrys admits he has no plans to retire just yet.
He said: “I have been married for 40 years and have two daughters and both are getting married this year so I might well need to keep working for another 100 years!
“Both my daughters, Rhianon and Angharad, work for Ernest Jones Jewellers too and I am sure they be coming to see me to buy their wedding rings.”
