Thanks to the BBC props department for getting in touch about a ladies hip flask for a scene in Eastenders which was filimed last week. This is the elegant ladies flask used but of course we cannot reveal the plot lines ….yet…I can reveal however it will be used to secretly fill another vessel….The first person to spot it and tell us the character using it and the date of transmission will win a free hip flask so watch this space…email via our Hip Flask web site or follow us on twitter @davidlouisdsign

Over the last few months we have been investing our energy into launching our new sister brand tankardstore, the name says it all. We know metal, we know engraving, and we know beer…as Homer said ……..mmmmMMM beer.

Building on our successful ventures into niche products we now have a huge variety of pint and half pint tankards on tankardstore and have been receiving orders from across the globe.

You can see some of the feedback we are getting by viewing our testimonial page and we are pleased that our position as ‘specialists’ in the field of niche alcohol related products is growing.

I mean there is definitely something going on here, first we started by designing cutting edge bottle openers – selling the all over the world and licencing it to other producers moving on to capitalise on our knowledge of hip flasks, testing them rigoursly on my stag do and at various festivals, and now onto tankards – I will need to go on a field trip soon after my new baby is born this week.

If there are any spotters out there that know of a hip flask or tankard we should be selling let us know – we want to grow and grow.

This information was supplied by Andy Munroe of the Jewellery Quarter Regeration Partnership

This is not an exhaustive list but set out below are the main organisations which have influence or input into either marketing the area or business support: -

Advantage West Midlands

They are funded through central government and have a region wide brief with business support divided into ‘clusters’ including ‘interior and lifestyles’. Funding is provided to support projects which are usually subcontracted in the case of the jewellery industry to the Ceramics Forum and Birmingham City University. Contact is Mike Barton Cluster Manager on 0121 503 3360.

Assay Office

Charged with the responsibility of assaying precious metals, they also provide a number of other services such as ‘Anchor-cert’. They also have a marketing department. Assay master is Michael Allchin on 0121 236 6951.

Birmingham City Council Business Support Team

This team are responsible for the Design Space incubation scheme, the proposed Retail Support Initiative and the Business Space Initiative (the latter two due to be introduced in the early Autumn). Contact is Carol Alderson on 0121 303 4366.

Birmingham City Council Leisure, Sports and Culture

The brief includes attracting more people to Birmingham City Council Museums and the cultural offer including ArtsFest and Brilliantly Birmingham. They have a limited budget to support these initiatives. Contact for Brilliantly Birmingham is Sophia Tarr on 0121 464 9675 and for ArtsFest, Emily Bartlett on 0121 303 8489.

British Jewellers Association

This is a nationwide trade association but who have some local membership and support their members on a whole range of trade related issues. Contact is Geoff Field on 0121 236 2657.

Jewellery and Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC)

The JIIC are part of Birmingham City University, which includes Birmingham School of Jewellery, and their brief is to provide a range of services including new product development to the jewellery trade both locally and regionally. Contact is Gay Penfold on 0121 248 4578.

Jewellery Quarter Association

This is a lobbying organisation who also run bi-monthly networking breakfasts. Contact Dave Mahony (JQA Chair) on 0121 236 7070.

Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative

Made up of mainly retailers, restaurants and bars who pay a subscription to market and raise the profile of the Jewellery Quarter. This ranges from working with travel operators and the media to involvement in events. Contact Anna Gibson, Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative Manager on 0121 464 1191.

Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership

Funded by Birmingham City Council the JQRP Team have a wide regeneration brief of which marketing is just one aspect. They also manage the Jewellery Quarter Information Centre. Contact Andy Munro (Operations Director) on 0121 464 1186.

Marketing Birmingham

Their brief is to market Birmingham but with the prime objective of attracting overnight visitors to bolster the economy. They are funded by Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands and some private sector contributions with the aim of marketing the generic Birmingham offer.

David-Louis Capturing Imagination

Here at David-Louis.com we are introducing the next generation of two way consumer product design…..

Our vision is to capture your imagination by introducing lifestyle products that you can:

Modify the shape and appearence….

Decide via our web site the colouring of the products….

You will be able to cut lettering into the surface of each product you order…….

adding these features will create a product that is unique to you or the person you are buying it for.

We are currently developing a range of products that will allow you to innovate and create unique products…

Over the coming weeks and months we will put our ideas online – product ideas you can adjust and bend to your whim – you will enjoy creating the design and love the product even more when you recieve it.

If you are interested in this type of product please do one of the following, leave a comment here or join our mailing list.

We will keep you updated on our progress and will create a unique two way design process of the future.

Here is a nice image of Princess Anne revealing our wall plaque and an article about it too

As one of the visiting bloggers on the Jewellery Quarter Web site I try to put news on the blog that is happening as we speak, I have been lecturing at the School of Jewellery (Located on Vittoria Street) as a visiting lecturer on the topic of entrepreneurship, creative enterprise and getting a job as a maker / designer.

As part of the remit the students on the BA for Industry had to produce online portfolios / websites the goal was to display their skills and / or their work to the potential customers or potential suppliers so I wanted to give the soon to be graduates a platform to get their web sites / portfolios a wider audience – and this is you the reader.

Please do have a look at the creativity that is pouring out of the School of Jewellery, I have no doubt these graduates will go onto projects like design space, or as employees of local, national or international design businesses or into self employment as designer jewellers and silversmiths.

Here are some links to the students portfolios – please do peruse them and leave a comment or two if you are inclined.

Sinead Prosser

Jack Row  

Danielle Hall

Rowan Katherine

Rachael Briggs

Saima Hussain

Kirsty Davies

Katie Mitchell

Bronagh Mullan.

Thank you for having a look and supporting designers and makers emerging from the Jewellery Quarter.

Less is more – well that is Gifts of Distinctions excuse for no blog posts over the last month – here is our newest product from Gifts of Distinction

A 300ml bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup, transformed into a piece of luxury tableware with a solid Sterling Silver Lid.

The Sterling Silver Ketchup Lid is handmade to perfection and is an ideal quirky gift.

For a perfect present, why not have the Sterling Silver Ketchup Lid personalised with up to three initials.

Who knew fish and chips could be so indulgent?

The silver ketchup lid is available at the http://www.gifts-of-distinction.co.uk

Of course you get the ketchup too.

Let us know what you think!!

Sterling Silver Ladies Business Card case

Well we are getting ready for mothers day here at Gifts-of-Distinction/ David-Louis.

Don’t forget mothers day is on March 22nd in 2009 and this Ladies Sterling Silver Business Card Holder is totally ideal for a sophisticated mother on Mothers Day.

Each one is hand made to order so get in touch as soon as you can.

This elegant business card holder comes with a beautifully formed bow detail for that feminine touch. This pretty little piece will fit neatly into any woman’s handbag,and is also ideal for credit cards.

Each business card case is handmade to order in Birmingham’s prestigious Jewellery Quarter.

The Sterling Silver card cases all bear the Birmingham Assay Office hallmark, and are each packaged in a presentation box with lift off lid.

Available from our online gifts site for £69.95 plus VAT.

Our Gifts of Distinction policy is all about luxury and indulgence. Treating yourself or a loved one to a gift that is and will be cherished.

With this in mind we are launching our Sterling Silver Mussel Eater

This exquisite solid Sterling Silver Mussel Eater is handmade to order in Birmingham’s prestigious Jewellery Quarter.

Each Sterling Silver mollusc bears the Birmingham Assay Office Hallmark.

Two pieces of oxidised or blackened Sterling Silver are held together with a delicate sprung hinge, so you can pick up your Moules Mariniere with the perfect pair of pincers.

Each Sterling Silver Mussel Eater is packaged in it’s own lift off lid presentation box, making it an ideal present for those with a passion for fine dining.

We do hope you like it. Please feel free to comment on our blog or products at any time.

Available for £64.95 plus vat at Gifts of Distinction mussel eater section.