F. Hinds
{{short description|British jewellery retail chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = F. Hinds
| logo = F. Hinds logo.png
| vector_logo =
| type = Private
| genre =
| foundation = London ({{Start date and age|1856|df=yes}})
| founder = George Henry Hinds
| location_city = Uxbridge
| location_country = England
| origins =
| key_people = Frank Hinds
William Hinds
| area_served = England and Wales
| industry = Retail
| products = Jewellery
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = Approx. 1,000
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| owner =
| slogan =
| homepage = {{url|fhinds.co.uk}}
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
F. Hinds is a jewellery retailing chain, operating in England and Wales. There are currently 116 F. Hinds stores within the United Kingdom.
History
=Beginnings (1856-1990)=
The chain is an independent retailer which was founded in 1856 by George Henry Hinds, although his father Joseph was also a clockmaker in Stamford, Lincolnshire{{cite web |url=http://www.fhinds.co.uk/About_Us/Our_History.html |title=Our History on F. Hinds website |date=8 October 2010 |accessdate=8 October 2010}} and his great uncle was also a Stamford clockmaker in the early years of the 1800s.
Shortly after the First World War, brothers Frank and William divided the business in two. William Hinds diversified into theatres and also into films as he was one of the two founders of Hammer Film Productions. Frank continued with the jewellery business and eventually, in 1990, F. Hinds took over the one remaining shop owned by the other half of the family in Worthing, Sussex.{{cite web |url=http://www.fhinds.co.uk/About_Us/Our_History.html |title=Our History on F. Hinds website |date=24 June 2020 |accessdate=24 June 2020}}
Brands operated by F. Hinds include My Diamonds diamond jewellery,{{cite web|url=http://www.fhinds.co.uk/jewellery/jewellery-by-brand/my-diamonds |title=My Diamonds Brand Page |date=2 January 2017 |accessdate=2 January 2017}} the Aureus gold on sterling silver jewellery collection and the Kilimanjaro Tanzanite collection.
=Opening of online store (1997-2005)=
The chain was one of the first click and mortar jewellers, having launched its first e-commerce site in 1997.{{cn|date=September 2022}}
The shops provide a design and repair service and also specialise in recycling unwanted gold jewellery into new pieces.{{cite web |url=http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/shopping/directory/fhinds |title=Trafford Centre Retailer Information |date=21 September 2010 |accessdate=8 October 2010}}{{better|reason=promotional source|date=September 2022}}
= RJC Certification (2008-2018)=
In 2008, F Hinds joined the Responsible Jewellery Council, the international not-for-profit organisation established to reinforce consumer confidence in the jewellery industry by advancing responsible business practices throughout the supply chain, and in August 2011 they were one of the first members to become fully accredited following an independent audit.{{cite web |url=http://www.responsiblejewellery.com/files/Certification_Information1_-_F_Hinds_Limited.pdf |title=RJC Certification Information – F.Hinds Limited on RJC website |date=29 July 2011 |accessdate=11 August 2011}}
In 2014 Andrew Hinds was elected Chairman of the UK jewellery trade body the National Association of Goldsmiths.{{cite web |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/business/director-bracknell-jewellers-made-part-7569669 |title=Director of Bracknell jewellers made part of National Association of Goldsmiths |date=6 August 2014 |accessdate=2 December 2014}} It later merged with the British Jewellers' Association and became the National Association of Jewellers. Hinds remained on the National Committee of the National Association of Jewellers until the end of his term in June 2020.{{cite web|title=New Chair welcomed at NAJ's 2020 AGM who publishes 'Essential Strategy' and calls for togetherness|date=18 June 2020 |website=www.NAJ.co.uk |publisher=The National Association of Jewellers |access-date=12 September 2022 |url=https://www.naj.co.uk/association-news/new-chair-welcomed-at-najs-2020-agm-who-publishes-essential-strategy-and-calls-for-togetherness}}
= Acquisition of Chapelle Jewellery (2019-present) =
In 2019, Hinds Ltd purchased the UK's leading outlet centre specialist, Chapelle. Chapelle had traded successfully for several decades but had struggled under Hilco which lead to its eventual administration; however, Hinds saved 12 of the stores. The outlet centre stores and website www.chapelle.co.uk continue to operate under the Chapelle brand name. In March 2022, the first new Chapelle store under F Hinds' ownership opened in the Designer Outlet West Midlands, Cannock.{{cite web | url=https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/new-business-moves-cannock-designer-6772099 | title=Major new shop opens at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands | date=8 March 2022 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.fhinds.co.uk}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinds, F.}}
Category:Retail companies established in 1856
Category:Retail companies based in London
Category:Jewellery retailers of the United Kingdom
Category:Family-owned companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Privately held companies based in London
Category:1856 establishments in England
Category:Jewellery companies of the United Kingdom
Category:British companies established in 1856