The recession has hit many of Sutton’s small businesses hard but one family jewellers has bucked the trend by increasing sales by 20 per cent.

S.Warrender and Co, based in Cheam Road, will also celebrate its 40th year in Sutton in 2010.

The business was set up in 1947 by Sidney Warrender in Redhill but moved to Sutton in 1970 when son Frank took over the company.

Today a third generation of the family run the business, which focuses on silver, gold, platinum and diamond jewellery, as grandsons Richard and Simon Warrender have now taken the helm.

Richard, who previously worked in the fine art world, believes the future is bright for both Sutton and Warrenders He said: “Sutton is very important to people locally and customers are very loyal here. It also has some impressive plans for the future and we want to be part of that.

“Despite the recession, we have employed three extra staff this year and increased sales by 20 per cent. Customers were spending less on average but the actual sales rose significantly.

One such loyal customer visited the shop in the early 1980s to look at an Edwardian diamond tiara but decided against purchasing it.

Richard said: “But then last year she came all the way back from Canada to buy it for somewhere in the region of £10,000-£15,000.

“I can’t mention some of our more famous clients by name but they are a mixture of actors, musicians and lottery winners.

“One of the most unusual requests we’ve had was to design a diamond-set microphone but that never came to fruition.”

Despite a host of smash-and grab raids across the country recently, Warrenders has never been robbed.

Richard said: “We take our security very seriously. We are located right next to the local police station and are completely covered by CCTV.”

For more information visit warrenders.co.uk or call 020 8643 4381.

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