A LUXURY jewellery store is thinking of taking on extra staff after a gem of a first year in business at the Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre in Wrexham.<\/p>\n
Bosses at Mococo, which started as a kitchen table enterprise for Flintshire couple Lee and Maureen Hooson and has grown into a network of sumptuous shops across North Wales and Cheshire, threw a glittering champagne party for customers to mark its first birthday.<\/p>\n
And Maureen Hooson said the Eagles Meadow shop had been such a run-away success that she and her husband were thinking of boosting staff numbers to cope with the demand created during their first glittering 12 months in Wrexham.<\/p>\n
The expensively fitted out Eagles Meadow shop was launched with a champagne reception early last year and the bubbly came out again last week for the big birthday bash in which guests schmoozed to the mellow tones of saxophonist Dean Houston.<\/p>\n
From a humble start around the kitchen table of their home in Northop the Hoosons have rapidly developed Mococo over the past seven years to the point where it has become one of the most important players in the business.<\/p>\n
Since Mococo was started with just \u00a3250 of Maureen\u2019s savings in 2006 the couple have opened five high street shops in Ruthin, Mold, Chester and Liverpool and the Eagles Meadow branch was another significant investment for them.<\/p>\n
Maureen used her original \u00a3250 investment to buy a small range of gems which she sold to friends at jewellery parties and things grew from there.<\/p>\n
With husband Lee masterminding\u00a0 the business side of things, Maureen concentrated on making her own jewellery and buying in prestige brands such as Pandora, Baccarat,\u00a0 and Thomas Sabo.<\/p>\n
All of items, including rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces are attractively displayed in the new Wrexham\u00a0 store.<\/p>\n
Taking a break from greeting customers at the first birthday party, Mauren said: \u201cI know we chose a tough financial climate to launch the Eagles Meadow shop but I\u2019m delighted to say it was a success right from the first day we opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, Eagles Meadow is obviously such a good location and we\u2019ve done so well here in our first 12 months that it\u2019s exceeded all our expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the word go we have been well received by our customers and many have said they are delighted that we chose to open here in Wrexham.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually overheard someone saying after looking in our window that it was like something you only see usually in London.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe opened last year with three full-time staff working during the week and five on Saturdays but things have been going so well for us that we have already taken on an extra full-time person.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now thinking of possibly taking on another part-timer for the lunchtime trade, which is when we get particularly busy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maureen added: \u201cI think our first year has been so successful because I believe we have captured a niche market in affordable luxury.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in a recession people like a bit of luxury and at Mococo you don\u2019t have to spend a fortune to get it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur customers go right across the age range from the very young to grans and granddads.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, it was marvellous to see young lads of about 12 coming in to buy something special for their Mums on Mother\u2019s Day.\u00a0 It would be something inexpensive like a charm for a charm bracelet but we wrap everything nicely in a gift bag tied with a ribbon to make it special.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have also been buying our jewellery as gifts as an alternative to other things. Instead of champagne they\u2019ve been buying ear-rings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now very much looking forward to another successful year at Eagles Meadow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley congratulated Mococo on having such a successful first year.<\/p>\n
He said: “Mococo has been a brilliant addition to our fantastic range of shops and underlines our growing reputation as the fashion capital of North Wales.”<\/p>\n