Mark McAskill, managing director of Mark McAskill Jewellery, said the milestone would be highlighted at the upcoming International Jewellery Fair (IJF) with the release of several new product ranges. He added that the Adelaide-based manufacturing business had evolved considerably since it was established in 1990.
“The business began with just one apprentice and has now grown to a qualified workforce of more than 40 industry professionals,” he said.
Although the business has continued to expand, McAskill acknowledged there had been several challenges over the years.
“As everyone knows, wholesale manufacturers are a dying breed in Australia,” he stated. “Unfortunately, our biggest challenge has been competing with cheaper products coming in from overseas where the labour component is dramatically different to here in Australia.
“We can’t compete with cheap labour but we can offer fast turnaround times when ordering, flexibility with alterations and variations to our standard products, special makes and outstanding personalised customer service. These are the things that overseas manufacturers cannot compete with.”
McAskill said the business’ survival could be credited to innovation, hard work and a willingness to adopt and invest in new machinery and technology while maintaining “age-old craft and workmanship”.
When asked to identify some major achievements, McAskill pointed to the introduction of the supplier’s own casting facilities in the late 1990s, developing the “stone-in-place” casting technique, building a strong market share in New Zealand and relocating to a purpose-built factory and office in 2008.
He explained the business’ product range had also expanded from a “handful” of pieces to more than 800,000 designs.
Looking forward, McAskill said, “We plan to continue to do what we do best – design and make quality fine jewellery.”
He added that expanding to international markets, including the US, was also a possibility.
Mark McAskill Jewellery currently supplies more than 800 jewellery retailers across Australia and New Zealand, and is 100 per cent Australian owned and operated.
The IJF will be held from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August at the Sydney Exhibiton Centre @ Glebe Island.