Wongs Named Marketing Master at Retail Jeweller’s Inspiring Independents 2026
We’re thrilled to share another piece of exciting news from an incredible week for Wongs. Following our success at the UK Jewellery Awards earlier this year, we’re delighted to have been named Marketing Master at Retail Jeweller’s Inspiring Independents 2026.
The award was announced at a special evening in London on 2 September, celebrating the very best independent jewellery and watch retailers from across the UK and Ireland. This year, 200 independent businesses were recognised as part of Retail Jeweller’s Inspiring Independents, with a select number receiving special recognition for their achievements in particular areas of their business.
To be recognised as a Marketing Master is a huge honour for us, particularly because creativity, communication and having a bit of fun have always been such an important part of the Wongs identity.
Marketing with a Wongs Twist
Over the past few years, we’ve made it our mission to approach jewellery marketing a little differently. We love jewellery, of course, but we also want Wongs to feel approachable, memorable and connected to the communities we’re part of.
That means our marketing can take many different forms. From playful and tongue-in-cheek social media content and eye-catching window and exterior displays, to collaborations with brilliant local businesses, we’re always looking for new ways to get people talking about jewellery.
One of our favourite examples came earlier this year when we teamed up with a local sandwich shop Derek's to create the limited-edition Mr Wong Sandwich as part of our Chinese New Year celebrations. It was a little unexpected, a lot of fun, and exactly the kind of collaboration we love at Wongs. It brought together two local businesses and gave our customers something completely different to engage with.
For us, that's what great marketing should do. It should create conversations, build relationships and give people a reason to remember you.
A Huge Team Effort
While marketing may be the category on the trophy, this award is very much a team achievement.
Our marketing team deserves an enormous amount of credit for the creativity, energy and hard work they put into everything they produce. There are countless ideas, meetings, photoshoots, campaigns, social posts, collaborations and last-minute moments happening behind the scenes that our customers never see.
We’d also like to give a special mention to our Commercial Director, Cynthia Cartwright, who has played a huge role in shaping the direction of Wongs and encouraging the team to think differently. Her support, ambition and willingness to try something new have been instrumental in helping us develop a brand that feels unmistakably Wongs.
Cynthia Cartwright said:
“I’m incredibly proud of our marketing team and everything they’ve achieved. We’ve always believed that jewellery marketing doesn’t have to take itself too seriously, and some of our most successful ideas have come from simply being willing to try something different. This award is a wonderful recognition of the creativity and hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and I couldn’t be happier to see the team recognised in this way.”
An Exciting Time for Wongs
The past year has been a particularly exciting one for Wongs, with the opening of our Manchester boutique in December 2025 marking a major new chapter for the business.
Expanding into a new city has given us even more opportunities to introduce Wongs to new customers while staying true to the personality, values and sense of community that have always been at the heart of the business.
It’s also been a year of incredible recognition across the industry. In July, we were honoured to take home two UK Jewellery Awards, winning Bridal Jewellery Retailer of the Year and Jewellery Retailer of the Year. To now add Marketing Master to those achievements makes this an incredibly special period for everyone at Wongs.
But awards are never the reason we do what we do. They are a wonderful reminder that the ideas, effort and passion our teams put into their work are making an impact, and they give us even more motivation to keep pushing ourselves creatively.
Celebrating Independent Jewellery Retail
We’d like to congratulate all 200 businesses recognised as part of Inspiring Independents 2026, as well as everyone who was shortlisted and received one of the special awards.
Independent jewellery retail is full of passionate, creative and ambitious people, and it’s fantastic to see so many businesses being celebrated for the unique things they bring to our industry. Being recognised alongside them is something we’re incredibly grateful for.
A huge thank you to Retail Jeweller and headline partner AG Group for putting together such a fantastic celebration, and to everyone involved in making Inspiring Independents such an important part of the jewellery calendar.
Most importantly, thank you to our incredible Wongs team. From our marketing and commercial teams to our sales, workshop and store teams, everyone contributes to the personality and success of Wongs. This award may say Marketing Master, but it belongs to all of Team Wongs.
We’re incredibly proud, incredibly grateful and already wondering what we can come up with next...
