Thu, 15 Jan 2026 | ADMINISTRATION
A buyer is being sought for a longstanding Derbyshire-based jeweller, after the company was forced to enter administration. 36 staff have been made redundant following the collapse of CW Sellors.
The company was founded in 1979 by Christopher Sellers, originally selling marble and granite pen holders and paperweights to local retailers. The firm’s first jewellery boutique store was opened under the name Blue John Gallery in Bakewell, Derbyshire in 1985.
CW Sellors continued to expand over subsequent years, gaining a reputation for its use of rare gemstones and ultimately opening ten locations across the UK, including stores in York, Whitby, Matlock, Shrewsbury, Ashbourne and Bakewell.
Despite becoming an established name in the jewellery sector, the company has experienced a turbulent few years. Founder Christopher Sellers passed away in September 2023 at the age of 64 while, earlier this year, CW Sellors said it had made the “difficult” decision to sell its newly-built headquarters in Carsington Water.
Amid ongoing challenging trading conditions, the business fell into administration earlier this week, with Lee Causer and Ben Peterson of BDO appointed as joint administrators of the company on Tuesday, January 13.
Prior to its administration, the firm employed 86 staff across its stores and workshops but has subsequently made 36 redundancies. The company’s four Whitby stores will also be combined into a single store moving forward.
Joint administrator Lee Causer said: "The business has been experiencing challenging trading conditions, with rising overheads and lower demand for its high-end products.”
“Regrettably, 36 people have been made redundant with immediate effect. The company’s remaining 50 employees will be retained for a period to assist the Administrators to trade the business whilst a buyer is sought."
CW Sellors’ stores, other than its Whitby locations, will remain open for the foreseeable future. However, customers can only place in-person orders at the remaining sites, with the company’s online ordering system currently not operating.
In accounts for the year to April 30 2024, C.W. Sellors (Gold and Silversmiths) Limited reported turnover of £28.5 million, down from around £30.5 million a year earlier, while falling from an operating profit of more than £950,000 to a loss of approximately £1.5 million.
At the time, its fixed assets were valued at £12.7 million and current assets at £10.8 million, while net assets amounted to around £4.5 million.
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