Profits sparkle for family-owned jeweller

WARREN James, the privately-owned independent retail jeweller, has reported a sparkling year of sales and profit growth.

The Stockport company founded in 1979 and still owned by publicity-shy siblings Ann Jones and John Coulter has 175 stores nationwide.

Newly-filed accounts for WJH Ltd, which is registered to Merseyway, Stockport, show that in the year to the end of March 2015 sales shot up 27% from £73.6m to £93.6m, while profits shot up 38% from £26m to £36m.

Employee numbers topped 1,000 in the year as Warren James took on nearly 200 more staff in the period. Staff numbers closed at 1,063, up from 878 in March 2014.

At the year end, the company has shareholders’ funds of £148.5m (2014 £119.8m).

Mr Coulter, writing in the strategic report said the directors believe the company’s position to be “satisfactory”, especially as its current assets exceed its current liabilities by £124.8m.