I enjoy what I do, a fact that I never take for granted.  The mix of, eyewear designing and race driving, works just fine for me.  I even managed to get Jones and Co onto the top step of the podium at a recent race, which I think was more luck then judgement.

 So when a client asked me, “What is the best bit of what you do?” I was stumped.  I could tell you some of the poor bits, but I do have lots of good bits.  The practice is housed in a grand building with lots of natural light that creates a super environment to work in.  The Jones and Co team has grown into a very relaxed, caring group who are all very passionate about what they do.  In fact, one person’s weakness seems to be complimented by another’s strength. Watching a design lift off the page and become a reality is always a buzz for me.  Faces have always fascinated me, all so individual.  Lens manufacturers now ensure we have the latest technology available to us which enables us to explore so many horizons when producing individual lens design.  The quality and depth of frame choice that we now have available is vast, so allowing us to dispense without  compromise.  Eyewear design and my professional driving take me all over Europe, giving access to so many new eyewear concepts, materials and manufacturers. So all is good, but what is the best bit?

 The answer is, you, the client.  You are fascinating.  We love to hear your stories, what you have been up to, where you have been and what you do.  Sports people, actors, musicians, bankers, barristers, business people, that make businesses out of the most unusual things.  Doctors, dentists, accountants and so the list goes on.  But, some professions stand out.  The fishmonger who was just so interesting to listen to, the fish to look for and how to cook them, to a recent client who is professional skate boarder, his sport taking him all over the world. You are without doubt the best bit of what I do, and that goes for all at Jones and Co.  I know that, because we talk about you after you have gone!

And we just can’t get enough of you because now we are starting to organise exclusive events away from the practice to invite you along.  The next is on June 25^th a relaxed road trip starting with breakfast and then a leisurely drive across to Anglesey where we have hired the Trac Mon race circuit exclusively for a run round with your road car at your own pace. We have packed in a few other goodies as well.  We will be in touch or give us a quick call for the cost and details. Bring whatever you drive the bigger the mix the more the fun. So thanks for being so interesting and making our job just
great!

Stuart

Precious Memories

I remember the opening of Jones Eye Wear Design as it was then in the Royal Exchange. It was a real stab in the dark and the pressure was on. I have always had a fascination with the form of the face. As a child, facial sculpture and portraiture always fascinated me and stayed with me despite having to battle amongst all the other boyhood interests that come and go. My mother was always and still is a keen artist and clearly it was in my genes. Opening a new Opticians in the centre of Manchester that broke all the moulds, with its emphasis on individual bespoke design and style was on the edge, but that opening day was lots of fun and our new clients really helped us to create a relaxed atmosphere.

I am pleased to say that trend has continued right up to this day as demonstrated by the recent great evening with Jones and Co. It was great to see so many familiar faces that were able to attend. Being able to catch up with everyone whilst tasting the wine….backed up with the extensive knowledge of Lewis from Spirited Wines on Deansgate was certainly fun.

The wild, wacky and clever collection of Theo frames from Belgium that we had on display fitted in perfectly with the evening and we are continuing to explore and extend that range with in the practice. If you want to stand out, then Theo is the way.

As an eyewear designer I love working with precious metals. Designing eye wear with precious metals is a true example of form and function coming together. Our evening with Jones and Co saw our first pieces of Lindberg precious metal on display and how well they were received. Yellow, rose, white, black gold and even platinum frame pieces with an array of VVS diamonds as requested elevated the eye wear into exquisite pieces of jewellery. Lindberg build each piece individually ensuring a client’s exact requirements are met. Customising the lens shape also ensures clients receive unique eye wear. The first completed pieces are just being checked into the practice and I can only describe them as beautiful. One particular design has been created using black gold with three discreet, black diamonds mounted expertly in each side, combined with hand crafted shaped lenses producing a stunning eye wear piece.

May be not the cheapest eye wear available….. but as a client said to me just last week, “ If I was buying a new nose, I would buy the best nose I could because it is right in the middle of my face . Considering my specs sit on my nose, I think I had better buy the best specs I can!” Think we might offer him a job!

Stuart

Time to reflect

Busy is good, exciting and tiring. A hectic few weeks. The practice has been buzzing, such a variety of stylings and designs coming through Jones and Co has kept us all on our toes. I have found my self waking up with a smile on my face, looking forward to the day’s practice. It is great to see the practice so vibrant and clients enjoying the experience so much. As the racing season draws to a close, there has been a final rush around the circuits that has seen me out at Spa Francorchamps, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Anglesey race circuits. This is always a funny time of year as plans for next seasons racing and circuit work start to take shape. Can’t wait for 2012. I hope to see some of you at the circuits again. I am also working on a completely new design project and for me, when putting pencil to paper, busy is not good. I seem to need a bubble of calmness round me to function.

A bit of ‘down time’ up in the idyllic Lake District is always good to clear my designer’s block. We have noticed at Jones and Co how many clients that we now have are based up in the Lakes. A good idea I think. I will work on controlling my jealousy when I see your Lake District address. A couple days around the Lakes ensured some fabulously fine dining, and a chance to expand on my burgeoning fine wine tasting . Oh and some bird watching an activity that my embarrassed son Joshua tries to keep quiet for some reason. What’s wrong with bird watching?

I did have chance to visit the compact Lakeland motor museum and very good it was too. Housed separately on the site is a very moving and atmospheric Blue Bird display. Bet Josh doesn’t mind me spotting those birds! The walls are adorned with the haunting images of the dashing, true brit, hero, Sir Malcolm Campbell and his somehow reluctant hero of his son Donald Campbel,l who perished attempting to break the world water speed record on Lake Coniston, on a cold, calm January 4^th 1967. What really focused me was a simple pair of aged gauntlet driving gloves. Wow, what those gloves must have experienced as Sir Malcolm battled, on some occasions, to stay alive as the cutting edge speed monsters he drove bucked and weaved teetering on the edge of oblivion. Mad I know, but I longed to put them on and see if any of those moments still lingered in their fibres. When Donald died he knew his K7 Blue Bird boat was on the outer edge of it’s performance capabilities, he knew he was walking a tight rope with no catch net. Wow.

My reflections got me thinking wouldn’t it be awesome, hilarious and tragic if one could put on someone else’s specs and see all that they have seen. Just imagine, John Lennon’s round wire frames the stories they could tell. The simple frames of Ghandi, the swept up black acetates of Ronnie Barker, the many designs of Eric Morecambe whose hinge pins for his frames were often sculpted into tiny representations of animals. We were recently asked to reproduce a pair of 1970′s Michael Caine specs just from images supplied, great fun. They say the mirror never lies, if only we could recall the images from a well worn pair of specs. Although some images I could give a miss, Gok Wan… you can keep hold of yours.

Just Popping out to Spar.

An expression I heard many times from my mum during my childhood years as she popped round to the local Spar shop, an expression always followed up with my plea for her to get some goodies whilst there! Today popping out to Spa has different connotations altogether, although it does result in some goodies for me in a few different forms.

Another airport, another security queue, another plane journey and another race circuit. The glamorous world of a race instructor. The big difference this time though is that this trip is not out to just another circuit, I am on a flight to the monstrous Spa Francorchamps race circuit. A circuit hated, but mastered by Jim Clark. A circuit, that when leaving his house to travel to Spa, Jackie Stewart said he would always glance back down his drive way and wonder if he would ever see it again.

As the jet engines of the plane scrabble away from the runway and climb away into the afternoon sky, I rest my eyes and think of the drivers who have conquered this circuit and the ones who sadly the circuit conquered. Archie Scot Brown, a driver who conquered so much including disability and the incredible ‘Knobbly’ Lister Jaguars. This true Brit of a race driver, when once asked about the possibility of the notoriously bad brakes failing on his Lister, replied with a bristle of his moustache, “ one would just carry on without them old boy!” On May 18th 1958, Spa took claim of this great character. Duelling for the lead with Masten Gregory, Archie crashed and was mortally injured he was just 31.

The original circuit wound through hills, buildings, ditches and trees for 14 miles, a circuit that demanded respect and still does. Oh, to meet the drivers that battled on the original circuit. As I walk through the arrivals gate at Brussels I am delighted to be able to shake hands with just such a driver, the evergreen and incredibly experienced ex BRM Formula One driver Mike Wilds. Goody number one!

The team have booked me into the beautiful Beau Site in the tiny village of Hockai a few miles from the circuit. A small,very friendly, family run hotel where nothing seems too much trouble. The best omelette in Europe I think. Goody number two!

An early start the following morning results in a beautiful drive through the Arden hills made all the more inspiring as the low winter sun defeats the night sky and begins to show off the beautiful scenery around the circuit. Goody number three! Sadly the dodgy, basic of basics, hire car definitely not making it into the goody bag. Out of all the circuits that I visit, Spa is my favourite. The sweeps, swoops, crests and sheer size of the circuit makes it unrivalled as a driving experience. A circuit to be respected and never taken for granted. Goody number four!

And oh what cars are out this weekend…Two Lola T70′s and a beautiful Ferrari 250 GTO make some of the modern super cars look tame. Goody numbers five to twenty!

My travels through out Europe always make me hungry for yet more eye wear design. I see so many people with interesting, vibrant eye wear. The fine gent pictured rolled up up in his 1930′s Blower Bentley… a man with, lets just say, a wardrobe of eye wear….a large one.

Despite the fact that Spa is renowned for its dubious micro climate, I have have raced there when it is bright sun on one side of the circuit whilst enduring a cloud burst on the other, we had four days of glorious warm sunshine… in November! Goody number twenty one!

So whether the local Spar shop or the incredible Spa Francorchamps, it’s goodies all round for me.

Thank you to all of our clients who attended our event last night. A few of you mentioned that you really feel part of the Jones And Co. practice. That is music to my ears! We feel privileged to have such a loyal clientele. Many of you have been clients for years. Many of you recommend your friends and family to us. Because of you Jones And Co. is a growing successful practice and we are extremely grateful to you. Thank you!

There are only 4 days to go until Jones And Co.’s client appreciation event. The final details are falling into place and the excitement is building!

The evening is our way of saying thank you to our clients and to celebrate the new design and success of the practice. There are several highlights from a wine tasting in our grand banking hall to an entertaining and insightful account of a top CEO’s guiding principles about business success and the importance of personal appearance.

And to top it off we are flying in two of the most exclusive eyewear collections in the world for one night only for a showcase of ground-breaking eyewear design.

The event is almost full but if you RSVP now by emailing or calling the practice you may be lucky enough to secure a place.

I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to eyewear design and opticians. I’ve visited the most impressive optical practices throughout the world. I can’t think of any that are located within such a unique building as 82 King Street. We really are privileged to provide our services within the grand walls of the former Bank of England building.

We recently completed a refurbishment of the old banking hall as well as an entire redesign and refurbishment of the reception, the eye wear gallery and the eye test room. The redesign features a portfolio of reclaimed and hand designed furniture. Rich parquet flooring sets the right tone for such a grand building and vintage furniture stands proudly, complementing the original design features.

The positive response to the practice’s new look has been overwhelming. It’s very pleasing to see the different reactions of clients. Clients have commented on everything from the hand printed wallpaper, to the tea cups and saucers! If you haven’t yet seen the wallpaper or the tea cups then you really are missing out. You must come and see for yourself.