In this newly created role, Colin will lead the 100-plus Jewellery Maker team, based in Redditch in the West Midlands. He will report into Francois-Regis Coumau, Immediate Group MD with responsibility for e-commerce, Consumer Marketing and Corporate Business Development.
Colin has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and retail, most recently as MD of TV shopping brand The Jewellery Channel, where he oversaw growth in sales and the development of the channel’s ecommerce offering. Prior to that, Colin spent six years as marketing Director of Signet, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewellery. Colin also spent 13 years at Sainsbury’s in senior marketing roles including Head of Service Marketing and Head of Marketing Operations.
Francois-Regis says: “Colin’s experience and enthusiasm for the sector make him the ideal candidate to drive Jewellery Maker forward. The brand, its talented people and its ecommerce channels are a priority investment for Immediate. We made the acquisition in November and we’re integrating the team into our business at pace, developing the next phase of Jewellery Maker’s strategy for growth. It’s a hugely exciting time!”
Colin adds: “Immediate are turning the dial in terms of redefining what a media business is capable of. Their understanding of the passion points in special interest audiences, their innovative approach to data and ecommerce, and the ambition of their overall platform strategy made it a very easy decision for me to make. I can’t wait to get cracking with the team.”
Founded in 2010, Jewellery Maker is a major craft transactional brand, and is the only UK TV shopping channel devoted to people who make their own jewellery; whether for personal use, gifts or for resale. The TV channel broadcasts 24 hours a day on Freeview Channel 76, Sky Channel 665, Virgin Channel 756 and Freesat Channel 807. The brand’s website, www.jewellerymaker.com, live streams all programming, enabling consumers to buy a wide range of jewellery-making supplies as well as providing a raft of video tutorials and workshops.
The acquisition of a TV shopping business is a significant step in Immediate’s roadmap to drive growth and adjacent revenue opportunities as part of its platform strategy, says the company.
