A jeweller with three decades of retail experience has taken over the reins of a North Wales store.

Martin Smith is the new manager of  jewellers F Hinds at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham and says it’s the best career move he has made.

He said: “I absolutely love working here at F Hinds. One of the main factors for me and one of the main reasons I wanted to come and work here is that the company remains a family-run business.

“What you get as a result at F Hinds, is a much more focused customer service and a real sense of the staff feeling that they have a stake in the overall business. I really do think that’s vitally important.”

Martin, who has lived with his wife in Chirk for the past 20 years after moving from Stockton-on-Tees in the North East, says, for him, Eagles Meadow is a great place to both work and visit.

He said: “My last position, before I accepted the role of manager at the F Hinds store at Eagles Meadow, was with a different jewellery company in Cheshire Oaks.

“I have to say, in my opinion, Eagles Meadow is a lovely place to work,  visit  and shop. It’s so clean and welcoming and there is a great choice of stores coupled with places to eat or to just enjoy a coffee.

“That really helped me make up my mind when I agreed to move to F Hinds. That along with the fact the business remains a family-run concern. I have also found shoppers and customers here in Eagles Meadow really friendly too.”

He added: “We have a really good team of five employees at the F Hinds store. We all get on tremendously well.

“We all get on tremendously well and everyone is very professional. It’s all about customer service and ensuring we are knowledgeable about the products we sell whether it’s watches, clocks, barometers, necklaces or rings.

“Our customers trust us to know all there is to know about a particular watch they may be interested in buying or when they are purchasing an engagement or wedding ring.  And that’s what we will always strive to achieve.”

Martin is now looking forward to a busy Christmas period now he’s settled into the role.

He said: “Christmas is always hectic whatever retail business you are in. However, the jewellery business is always particularly busy.

“It’s my job to ensure we are ready and fully prepared for what will be a very busy couple of months in the run up to Christmas. We will ensure the shop is as sparkling as the diamond rings we sell.

“And we look forward to welcoming our customers and helping them chose that very special Christmas gift.”

Kevin Critchley, the manager of Eagles Meadow, was delighted to welcome Martin to the shopping centre.

He said: ” Martin’s impressive track record and the fantastic ethos of F Hinds is a winning combination.”