Ada Gallery
Tucked under the fairylights of Bennett’s Place, Ada Gallery is one of Harborough’s hidden gems (excuse the pun). We chatted to Ruth Wood about her background in jewellery, the history of the shop, and her famous clients.
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Tell us a bit about your background before starting Ada Gallery…
I was inspired by a contemporary jewellery exhibition at the Barbican in London when I was 20. From that I chose to study a foundation year in art and design, with jewellery making evening classes at KIAD in Canterbury. A degree in jewellery design and silversmithing at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham followed, with a post-grad year at the prestigious Bishopsland near Henley on Thames. I had learnt business and design skills from Royal College of Art tutors, plus making skills from top master craftsmen in silversmithing, engraving and enamelling. How was Ada Gallery born? I was very close to training to become an art and design teacher in my early 30s, when I found out about the local Sir Thomas White charity, offering £15,000 interest-free business start-up loans. I applied and was successful! I was originally born in Oakham and moved back to Leicestershire after studying. I fell upon the vacant Bennett’s Place courtyard shop unit in Market Harborough and decided to go for it. Since being a little girl, I had always dreamt about having my own shop and learning a craft skill. If I had not chosen jewellery, it was going to be furniture restoration! How did you choose the name? Ada was the name of my Great Gran from Leicester. It’s a lovely name and it also means ‘adornment’ in Hebrew. It fitted perfectly, as in ‘adorning’ yourself in beautiful jewels. We celebrated Ada Gallery’s 9th birthday in March. What has business been like for you over the past nine years? We have a really strong and loyal local customer base – which is lovely! As long as I can keep making and picking amazing new pieces from different designer makers from throughout the UK, we seem to be doing well. We finally launched our much-requested online shop in Oct 2021, which has a vast selection of handmade contemporary jewellery. It also has handmade leather bags and purses, woven silk and merino lambswool scarves, candles, cashmere hand warmers and lots more to choose from. Over 600 different products to be precise! You can search by material, maker, price, style, colour, type of product and even birthstone. Have their been any tricky moments? Well, obviously the Pandemic wasn’t great for shops when it hit in March 2020. A lot of businesses folded. Luckily, there were grants for shops from Market Harborough District Council to help cover rent and other costs, which was a lifeline. It was tricky juggling work and home-schooling my young son, I won’t lie! But, we got through it using Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to promote our products. We offered virtual shopping, postal presents, local delivery and click & collect when I was allowed to go into the shop. Broadcaster Jo Whiley is a big fan of your jewellery. When did she first come in and how important has that connection been? Jo first visited the shop back in 2017 and has been a regular customer ever since, visiting the shop and purchasing things online. When she bought a piece of jewellery that I had made in June 2022, I plucked up the courage to ask for a photo with her wearing the piece that I could share. In the last year, she has shared a few Instagram stories about my jewellery and Ada Gallery, which is obviously fantastic promotion. It’s awesome that she loves my jewellery, she’s such a lovely lady. I often see her wearing my Cave pendants in person, via social media and when she’s at work. I’m also currently making a Cave Treasure ring and earring commission for her close friend. The shop is so full of gorgeous items, do you have any favourites? I love to help choose the right pieces for customers – from any of the 40 makers we stock – that makes them look and feel great. Whether it’s an everyday piece, or a special occasion for which I have to make the jewellery, or a bag or scarf to work with an outfit. My favourite is to make my one-off Cave Treasure stone set rings. Especially engagement rings with secret proposals. I love it when customers visit the shop or send me pictures of them wearing jewellery they purchased from Ada or that I’ve made for them. We have a page called #adaadorned on our website, that is for sharing pictures of our customers wearing their beloved pieces. What are your plans and hopes for the future? To keep working hard, juggle being a single mum and promote Ada Gallery and our online shop. I want to continue to make lots of my jewellery commissions, too. I’d like to get more of my Ruth Wood Jewellery photographed and up on the online shop. I’m currently in middle of doing a new Ruth Wood portfolio website and would love to find more amazing part-time staff members, so I don’t have to close the shop for holidays. And, if I can squeeze it in, I would like more time to start making my hand raised silver bowls and hand forged spoons again. And finally… I would love to say thank you to all our lovely regular customers, it means the world that you love our independent jewellery store and purchase things with us. Shopping small, supporting local! Ada Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm in Bennett’s Place, or visit: adagallery.co.uk |
Issue 18
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