51 COMPANY PROFILE THE BETTS GROUP +44 (0)121 233 2413 sales@bettsmetals.co.uk nationwide. Each film is stripped into its component parts and put through various processes to extract silver, which is refined at our facilities in Kidderminster and Buxton in full segregation from any other material. Approximately two to five grams of silver are produced from every kilogram of X-ray film, providing a source of revenue for NHS Trusts across the UK. We’ve expanded the range to include silver grain, various widths of square and round wire, D-shaped wire, rectangular wire and three widths of silver sheet, all suitable for designer-makers, crafters and jobbing jewellers. In terms of our Tools & Technology Department, it is exciting how many great brands we now stock both at our Jewellery Quarter showroom and online. Examples include Busch, Elma, GRS, Durston, Badeco, and Lampert. These companies produce some of the best jewellery-making products in the world, but the choice can feel overwhelming without the right guidance and advice. Our team has lots of practical, handson experience to point you in the right direction, while also providing demonstrations to see if a tool is right for you. Hobby & crafts have boomed over the last two years! Have you noticed any new trends? There’s a drive towards authenticity across all areas of business, so I think we can see this in the hobby and crafting space too. Makers who are genuinely passionate about creating something meaningful and personal are the ones who are connecting with customers the most. Even at The Betts Group, it’s our absolute dedication to responsibly sourced precious metals and transforming the future of gold mining that is helping us reach new customers. I think it’s safe to say that an important trend is material provenance, and ensuring that raw materials come from responsible, transparent and traceable sources. Customers want to feel that their purchases are making a positive contribution, rather than perpetuating bad habits of the past. Hobbyists and crafters making their own goods will no doubt benefit from being able to confidently share where their raw materials come from, especially if they have any quantifiable sustainability or environmental claims. How would you advise a retailer who is interested in stocking your products? Whether they’re interested in wedding rings, precious metal bullion or tools and technologies, my advice would always be to pick up the phone and speak to us. Our friendly team in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is always happy to help and point our existing and new clients in the right direction. What sets you apart from your competitors? Firstly, it’s the longevity and history of The Betts Group as a company. Our precious metal expertise really does go back centuries, and this has all shaped the business as it exists today. Secondly, there’s the diversity of our products and services, which are suitable for oneman-band traders, large manufacturers, brands, retailers and investors. Finally, I’d say it’s our proactivity and willingness to invest our time and resources into the betterment of the British jewellery trade. We participate in leading trade shows, sponsor the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards and the UK Jewellery Awards, support the Birmingham School of Jewellery and other leading institutions and colleges, and participate in events that keep the spirit of the Jewellery Quarter alive. Do you visit any trade shows? Do you plan to visit any soon? In March, we’ll participate in the Retail Jeweller Festival, which is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with independent retailers and our peers in the trade. Then, in September, we’ll return to London for The Jewellery Show, which has been one of our favourite events in recent years. What are you looking forward to most over the next year? We’re forging some great relationships with independent retailers, connecting them with Single Mine Origin (SMO) Gold from the initiative’s latest Member Mine, Bellevue, which operates a carbonneutral mine in Western Australia. Not only can we be assured of the provenance of this gold, but we can also rely upon its environmental and carbon-neutral credentials, which is a great step forward for the gold mining industry. Elsewhere, we are also the Headline Partner of the UK Jewellery Awards, which will take place in July 2026. This is an event we always look forward to, and it is a great place to champion innovation, dedication and perseverance in the trade. What new products can we expect from you in the future? This year will get off to a flying start with the launch of three new product lines. Although these won’t be unveiled until March 2026, I can reveal they are rooted in wedding rings and responsibly sourced precious metals – two of our biggest and most important business categories.
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