To celebrate a decade in business, made-to-order fine jewellers Kate & Kole are leaving their Newcastle studio and hitting the road on an exciting Residency Series. This weekend, they hit the Gold Coast, giving locals a rare opportunity to connect in person in the sumptuous surrounds of the Mondrian.
We caught up with co-founders Madalynne Clifton and Sara Spence ahead of their visit.
Many Gold Coast business owners would be looking at your journey – going from small, surf town beginnings to major national and international success – as an inspiration. Which values have you held onto since starting Kate & Kole, and which have changed (for better or worse) over the years?
I think the nice thing about our business has been how scalable our values have turned out to be. We haven’t had to compromise on anything to achieve the growth we have. From day one, we’ve prioritised sustainability and transparency and our customer has always come first. We’ve been design-led in our approach, we’ve always championed women, and we’ve always leant on each other as business partners to guide the brand and make decisions together. What worked when we were selling tens of units still holds true today. I think that consistency is something we’re really proud of.
What was the inspiration behind your Residency Series, and why was the Gold Coast a must-visit location?
From our very first appointments that were held in Sara’s living room, we felt that being in a comfortable environment was a really critical part of the engagement design and purchasing process. The jump from fine jewellery to engagement rings is a big one – both for a brand and for a customer – and to take this concept to the scale of residencies has been such a wonderful journey. Showcasing beautiful homes and interior design has been a fortunate side benefit, but it’s really about sitting down with a customer or couple, having a glass of champagne, and talking through the process. The Gold Coast has been on our radar for a while. The laid-back beach town is one we’re familiar with, and we have such close business connections with Brisbane, heading a little down the coast made so much sense to us.
Why did you choose the Mondrian as the backdrop for your pop-up?
We are always looking for new places that feel like a beautiful representation of the brand. When the Mondrian opened it felt like such a beautiful seaside experience, alike to our current space in Newcastle with a luxurious and airy feeling. We want customers to feel relaxed and welcome as soon as they visit us and this felt like such a perfect place to facilitate such special appointments.
What are you most looking forward to about connecting with your Gold Coast customers?
We haven’t visited the Gold Coast as a brand before and we’re so excited to see which styles and shapes feel reflective of the area. Each location tends to have its own unique trends and it’s always inspiring to see how they differ from the last. We can’t wait to discover which pieces our Gold Coast audience is most drawn to.
Anything else to add?
Due to overwhelming interest, we’ve added more appointment slots to our Gold Coast Residency. If you’ve been wanting to book but couldn’t find availability, now’s your chance. Whether you’re just starting to explore or you know exactly what you’re looking for, we’d love to sit down with you over a glass of champagne and create something truly special.
To book an appointment during Kate & Kole’s residency at the Mondrian – taking place on Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16 – click here.
