Silver anniversary for famous shop

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Silver anniversary for famous shop

Oct 13, 2008

THE Famous Sheffield Shop celebrated its 25th birthday recently with a special reception attended by VIPs and guests including the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, The Master Cutler and the University of Sheffield Vice Chancellor.

The silver anniversary was launched with a champagne-style reception and Yorkshire Fayre buffet, after which the Lord Mayor, Coun Jane Bird, officially opened the newly refurbished and re-branded shop.

In her speech, Coun Bird paid tribute to the shop's founder, Don Alexander, who staked his £11,000 redundancy payment on the concept of a Sheffield Shop selling only local products.

He had no experience of running a retail business and many said it wouldn't survive! Guests also heard a speech from The Master Cutler, Gordon Bridge, who commented on the strength of the manufacturing sector in Sheffield and paid tribute to the continuing role of "Little Mesters" and the new generation of crafts people emerging from the Universities.

Corin Mellor also gave a short talk on the history of David Mellor, emphasising the importance of design in product development. Additionally the shop's Celebration Range of unique, locally made, own-brand products, specially developed for the anniversary, was unveiled.

For its entire 25 years, the Famous Sheffield Shop has sold a variety of pewter, silver and steelware items made in Sheffield. Paul Iseard, current owner, said on the night:

"We've had a fantastic evening. The shop has survived through thick and thin thanks to the loyalty of our customers and our popularity with visitors. We are proud to provide a shop-front for products made by Sheffield-based crafts people, whether they are employed in factories or operating independently. I'm so glad, too, that the Lord Mayor was with us, particularly as she pointed out that the birthday candles were perilously close to setting the shop alight!"

One of the highlights in the new-look shop was a special showcase of silver and pewter items hand-made by students of the Freeman College in Sheffield.

The college is part of the Ruskin Mill Education Trust, a further education organisation educating and supporting young people with autistic disorders and developmental delay. Former student of the college, Joe Norris presented a sterling silver letter knife, made by one of the students of the Freeman College, to the Lord Mayor of Sheffield on behalf of the Famous Sheffield Shop.

Since it first opened in 1983, The Famous Sheffield Shop has applied one golden rule: its goods must be made in Sheffield. Amongst the crowd of guests was Stan Shaw, who, at the age of 83, is the oldest working pocket knife cutler in Sheffield. He has been supplying the shop since it opened. By happy coincidence, Sheffield's youngest pocket knife maker, Stephen Cocker, aged 22, was also there. Stan, who is recognised as the world's best pocket knife cutlers, has been one of Stephen's mentors.

Don Alexander, who first opened the shop, joined the celebrations. He commented "here we are, 25 years on, with customers in almost every country in the world. Paul has moved the business forward: put it on the web, doubled sales and established strong contacts with the resurgent local industry."

Paul Iseard said of the shops future: "I'm looking forward to extending the Celebration Range and working closely with suppliers to develop exciting new products and bring new, top-quality Sheffield-made products to the market" says Paul. On the night, Paul was wearing sterling silver Mother of Pearl shaped cuff-links – a one-off design, handmade by Annette Petch, from the Academy of Makers – and his wife, Marian, was showing off Annette's new Mother of Pearl shaped silver earrings.

The Celebration Range unveiled on the night consists of items that can only be found in The Famous Sheffield Shop. The special items for sale include a trowel and fork set, a Presto Egg Opener, the design of which dates back to the 1930s, a silver pig knife rest, handmade sterling silver designer vases, carbon steel bladed kitchen knives and willow pattern silver plated cutlery.

The shop is at 475 Ecclesall Road and many of the items can also be found and purchased online at www.sheffield-made.com

Source: Sheffield Telegraph

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