By JONATHON HOWARD
ONE woman’s goal to give all women the chance to own fine quality, beautifully designed jewellery was the success story behind Secrets Shhh.
It was with this goal in mind that Secrets managing director and co-founder Jane Meredith opened her first store at Bay Village in the year 2000.
Fourteen years on, Secrets Shhh has grown into a nationally recognised brand with rave reviews from happy customers all over the country and the world.
The Secrets Shhh brand is now entering a new phase by closing its Bay Village outlet and re-opening on Hastings Street.
The new Secrets store is located besides Aromas within the Sebel Hotel shopping precinct and was due to open on Wednesday, September 17, with a grand opening event in November.
Strangely, Ms Meredith’s first taste of the high-end diamond industry was when she had lost everything.
“After selling my Donut King business and ending a 20-year relationship, a friend asked me to help out in his high-end jewellery store,” she said.
“While I was there he advised me that only nine per cent of women could afford the high-end diamonds we were selling.”
Ms Meredith said it was while carefully placing rings in the front window that she noticed a woman pushing a pram towards the window.
“She looked up at me, then down at the diamond rings and back up at me with a sense of sadness and walked away,” she said.
“It was in that moment I had an epiphany – we were both one of the 91 per cent of women who couldn’t afford high end diamonds.”
Ms Meredith held this experience close to her heart, as she embarked on her greatest challenge to bring finely crafted jewellery to every woman, something she now achieves every day.
From humble beginnings Secrets is now throughout Australia and online with new stores opening in 2014.
With stunning designs set in solid white, yellow or rose gold, Secrets jewellery still has the symbolic meaning for love and commitment – and today many couples are choosing their engagement and wedding rings from Secrets.
Sharing her secrets of success, Ms Meredith said to surround yourself with a team who believed in your product and “never give up”.
The new store will be giving away a beautiful gift with every purchase valued at $50 or over until Sunday, 21 September.
