Janet
Epsom, Surrey

Mobile: 07826 577791
Phone: 01737 370380
Email: janet.robinson@silverdazeuk.com

Janet joined the company in April 2009, but was no newcomer to Silverdaze. She and her husband Dave first met Diana at a village market in 2004. Whilst Janet was busy browsing through the Jewellery Diana discovered that Dave was a website designer. A year later Diana set up the Silverdaze Franchise, searched out Dave's business card and commissioned him to design her website. Dave continues to manage and update the website to this day.

I had often thought about becoming a Silverdazer, but the catalyst was when my husband's job came under threat and I thought "What can I do to help?" I had started out in IT and became an administrator for a web design company, but I wanted a change of direction and didn't want to feel like I was going backwards. Once I had made the decision I couldn't wait to get started and felt impatient waiting for Diana to return from a buying trip overseas.

I bought a Franchise resale from the first ever franchisee to join the company, which meant I received a lot of good advice, a customer base and a number of venues before starting out on my own. My first event was an Open Day at my own home and I was feeling quite confident because my guests would all be people that I knew. That morning, when I had all my Jewellery laid out in trays on the floor, I began to panic about what it would look like and would I be able to display it as well as Diana and the team in the office had shown me. My first guest arrived and she just loved the Jewellery, so things got easier and as the day went on I began to realize what a success my business was going to be!

It was also nice to have the company and moral support from my fellow franchisees Vicky and Avni, who commented on how nice my trays looked and offered me practical advice such as pre-preparing the wrapping tissue by cutting it into different sizes and polishing the Jewellery before wrapping it. Avni even tried to buy some of my unique one off pieces, but unfortunately for Avni I sold the pieces that she really liked.

I would say that my own taste in Jewellery is quite conservative but the more I buy and sell the more adventurous I become. I'm getting better at buying for other people's tastes and knowing what sells well. For example, I tend to take lots of rings and earrings to fetes and fairs, but more expensive pieces to private functions. But having said that, everyone loves our rings! My best event was a party for a friend of a friend who came to my open day. All her guests were just so enthusiastic about the Jewellery and loved the raw silk, satin lined party bags. I did so well that I went straight out and treated myself to a brand new Radley handbag!

I'm a lot busier than I used to be and I don't waste as much time, somehow the more you have to do the more you get done. I enjoyed having a break from IT and it allowed me to spend time with my dad when he was ill, but this doesn't feel like work, because I'm doing it for us and my social circle is becoming wider and wider. I'm happy to work up to four events a week and my next treat is to book a holiday to our favourite destination Las Vegas!