Eloise: How It Came to Be the Wonderful Thing It Is Today
Can you believe Eloise Jewellery is 30?
Let’s look back at exactly how we got to where we are today.
ELOISE JEWELLERY – HUNTER STREET
The story of Eloise Jewellery starts back in 1996.
Louise Canny, our founder, opened up her very own shop on Hunter Street in Kirkcaldy, with nothing more than a passion and love for jewellery.
She painted the outside a bright turquoise and the inside walls a bright coral.
The logo was designed by a young graphic design student.
The floor was filled with mismatched cabinets, tall and small, thin and wide, which came to be the home of some of the most beautiful jewels, trinkets… and all the other interesting things Eloise has sold over the years.
The first pound coin she made in that shop was stuck to the wall for 15 years.
ODDIQUITIES – HUNTER STREET
But the real story starts 11 years prior.
Many of you from our sweet little town will remember Louise’s previous endeavours.
The first time she opened the door of that very shop, it was called Oddiquities, a play on the words ‘odd’ and ‘antiquities’.
Louise grew up with a particular interest in, and keen eye for, antiques. Her mother, Ella, was an antique dealer by trade and would take little Louise along to all of the antique fairs, auctions and car boot sales.
By the time she was 15, she had accumulated enough knowledge and treasures to open a shop, and that she did.
THE STRAWBERRY DUCK WAGON – THE MERCAT
Who remembers the infamous Strawberry Duck Wagon?
This precious little venture came next.
The wooden Romani wagon sat outside Miss Maude’s in the Mercat Shopping Centre in Kirkcaldy.
It was ultra-successful.
Many of you, to this day, come into Eloise with a piece of jewellery you bought from that very stall.
It warms our hearts every time to know you loved it as much as we did.
ELOISE JEWELLERY – HUNTER STREET
As soon as Louise grew out of the stall in 1996, it was time to go back to Hunter Street, where it all started.
The name Eloise is an amalgamation of the names Ella and Louise, a tribute to Louise’s beloved mother, who had taught her everything she knew.
Alongside a plethora of unique brands, Eloise boasted the most incredible and individual bohemian-style gemstone jewellery.
And over 20 incredible years, it became the business you all know and love today.
In 2001, she had a baby.
There was now a little girl named Poppy running around and being raised within the bright walls of that very shop.
Louise took little to no maternity leave and even sometimes breastfed her daughter (discreetly, of course) while serving customers.
Women truly are superhero’s.
Then came the jewellery workshop, which opened around 2010.
Eloise could now fix and make jewellery and had two skilled in-house silversmiths.
ELOISE JEWELLERY – THE HIGH STREET
In 2016, Louise took on a major risk, leap and project.
After the closing of Tesco, Hunter Street didn’t have the same passing trade it used to. It was time to move on.
Through a turbulent time in her life, alongside raising a teenage girl and caring for her elderly mother and father, she found and opened the perfect shop.
Right in the middle of Kirkcaldy High Street.
Tall, dark marble pillars, two big front windows, a large shopfront and enough room for another full jewellery workshop.
What used to be Jessops still had ‘The Jewellers’ sign above the door.
It was meant to be.
As soon as she got the keys, she showed her mother and father her next project and accomplishment. They were so proud of their little girl.
There was a lot to be done.
A major renovation project had started.
Huge turquoise stained-glass-style stickers were put into the front windows, and every interior wall was painted the classic ‘Eloise blue’.
Sadly, neither her mother nor father got to see the finished shop.
She lost them both within seven days of each other and entered the hardest few months of her life.
In July 2016, the brand-new Eloise Jewellery opened its doors.
In 2017, we were awarded Best Gift Shop in Fife…
…and then a few more.
Best Gift Shop at the Fife Business Awards 2017
Best Craft or Creative Business at the Fife Business Awards 2018
Grand Finalists at the Scotland Business Awards 2018
Best Gift Shop at the Fife Business Awards 2020
Our jewellery workshop now has three full-time jewellers who can repair, remodel, repurpose, clean, design and make from scratch any piece of jewellery you need.
The front shop now specialises in gold, diamonds and unique engagement rings, with that side of the business growing more every single day.
Poppy is now in her 20s and has built Eloise Jewellery a website to take Eloise worldwide.
Louise always has, and always will, handpick every single piece of jewellery that makes it into our boutique. That’s what separates Eloise from every other jeweller on the planet.
Louise has the most incredible eye for bold, unique, colourful jewellery, with flair and class in everything.
You literally won’t see some of these pieces anywhere else in the world.
Louise and her sweet mum Ella’s roots are still strong, with three full cabinets boasting vintage and antique jewellery, sourced from her adventures all over the world.
We still hold Fife’s largest selection of unique, one-off, rare and handmade sterling silver jewellery, from bohemian to modern designs, in a rainbow of every gemstone you could imagine.
Almost everything you see in Eloise? There’s only one.
No restocks, no repeats, no second chances.
A real-life treasure trove, right here in the heart of our seaside town.
Alongside all of this is our selection of beautiful, high-end but affordable brands, such as Powder Accessories, Ania Haie and Watch This Space.
All perfect for gifting.
Over the years, we’ve watched generation after generation come through the doors of Eloise, each one loving our treasures as much as the last.
We know our customers by name, and we love and appreciate every single one of you who has ever bought something from Eloise, in-store or online.
Thank you for 30 incredible years.
Thank you for continuing to support our small business.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to see our new launches and all the behind-the-scenes action from our crazy, colourful and wonderful trove of treasures.
@eloisejewellery
The story doesn’t stop there. This is only the beginning.
Turn the inside of your jewellery box into your very own treasure trove.
Browse Eloise Jewellery.