Toye, Kenning & Spencer linking with Staples

Bernie Cope, Production Director of our Bedworth factory kindly took some time out of his busy working day to say a few words with our Stationary partner Staples, and a very well put together testimonial it is.
Can you spot any famous sporting awards in the video?

Behind the Scenes

What is your favourite hobby?
I like gardening & baking
What genre of music are you into?
I love musical theatre, but like a wide range of music.
What did you aspire to be as a Child?
As a Child I was interested in textiles and was always looking in museums at weaving, knitting and embroiderers. I was always interested in the processes involved with producing a finished garment.
Which factory are you based at?
Bedworth
What is the job title?
Medal Mounter
Duties and responsibilities of the job:
Ensuring the safe keeping of peoples medals, and mounting them accordingly, advising on the order of wear and producing a high level of customer satisfaction.
For how long have you been working for this company?
15 Years.
Tell us about your history at Toye, Kenning & Spencer…
When I first started work at TKS I worked in the military department making music stand banners, drum covers and many other things. I have been medal mounting for 10 years and have seen many rare and valuable medals.
Which objects and resources do you require most frequently during your job?
During the course of a day at work I use many different ribbons, clasps and brooches and a candle to seal the end of the ribbons. (Modern Technology)
What do you find most interesting about the present job profile?
I like talking to the customer and hearing the stories behind their medals. It makes me proud when I return their medals to them because they are pleased with the results and appreciate the high standard of work carried out by people within the company.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment we are in the middle of the Queens Diamond Jubilee and are very busy mounting hundreds of medal groups along with ribbon bars and miniature medals. We are also making many display cases to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

Medal spotting at the Diamond Jubilee

 

The festivities at the beginning of June were a glorious way to celebrate HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  It was wonderful to watch the country come together to recognize her long years of service.
For those of us at Toye & Co, there was another aspect to our celebrations; almost unknowingly we found ourselves playing spot the medal.  With our heritage it is no surprise that many of the medals and ribbons on show were manufactured in our Birmingham and Bedworth factories.
Those with sharp eyes will have seen the Diamond Jubilee Medals being worn proudly by the officers of the City of London Police Service outside St Paul’s Cathedral.  We also saw a range of uniform accouterments, headdresses and ceremonial items, including state trumpet banners, made with pride by our craftspeople.  For one fleeting second we saw a broach worn by the Lady Mayoress of the City of London and the badge of office worn by one of the two sheriffs, Wendy Mead.  Both were designed by Pei Nap-Mok and manufactured in our Birmingham factory.

Birmingham’s Secret Gem…

Birmingham has been known for it’s industries throughout the years but as centuries go on, times definitley change; not for Toye, Kenning & Spencer. Toye, Kenning & Spencer have been a family run Manufacturing firm created a huge 327 years ago, set up by The Toyé family who arrived in England in 1685 as Huguenot refugees after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV.

  The Toyé family sailed into the Thames in 1685 disguised as cattle-dealers. They settled in Hope Town, now known as Bethnal Green, close to Spitalfields. Here they resumed the traditional family business of weaving, lace-making, embroidery and gold and silver wire making. In 1784 Guillaume Henry Toyé was engaged in this industry and living with his family in Hope Town. He had four sons and three daughters.

     

Toye, Kenning and Spencer have a Metal manufacturing factory in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham; a Textile manufacturing factory in Bedworth, outside of Coventry, and a fantastic Showroom in Covent Garden, London.
The skills offered by the company are never ending, from start to finish what ever job you are looking for, whether it be a Bespoke Jewel, Custom-made tie, Masonic Aprons, a Commemorative Medal, Medal Ribbon, or a pair of fine hand-enamelled Cufflinks you will feel like you have been involved in the Manufacturing journey.

       

Toye, Kenning and Spencer are proud holders of a Royal Warrent where they are suppliers of Gold and Silver laces, Insignia and Embroidery to Her Majesty The Queen.
Aswell as the above Toye, Kenning and Spencer are proud suppliers to the English FA for medals and trophies. Uniforms and Accoutrements for schools, universities and corporate clients, including major airlines, retailers and security firms. As well as Toye, Kenning and Spencer, two other Royal Warrant holders are working flat out to produce 450,000 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals for the June celebrations.

        

On Top of the World!

We would like to congratulate 6 Ordinary Men on their 2012 North Pole Expedition. The Ordinary Men, include Brian Amos, Alex Parker, Andrew Taylor, Paul Taroni, John Donovan, and Nigel Warwick. The journey commence on 31st March and it was concluded on 11th April (11am GMT) when they "Ordinary Men" updated their blog saying:

Hey – you lot down there? 

We’re on Top of the World!!!!!

We did it! We made it! 

We’re in the middle of doing our Victory Dance trying not to spill the whiskey!!

Best Wishes to everyone – thanks so much for your support – we’ve got some fab photo’s to share with you when we return.

Toye, Kenning & Spencer are proud to announce that we were the manufacturers of commemorative medals that were given to the rest of the team by Brian Amos & Andrew Taylor whne they reached the North Pole.

The medals were made out of 18ct White Gold and supplied boxed with our Toye, Kenning & Spencer Royal Warrent and on metal chains.

If anybody would like to add to the £182,227.00 for the Childrens Charity Sparks, Click Here.

Personalise Your Clothes

 Toye, Kenning and Spencer really can personalise anything from
Tee Shirts, to Trousers, and from Jigsaws to Wall Clocks. 

Personalised products reinforce a company or organisation’s name and highlight its identity and promotional message.  Toye, Kenning & Spencer offers a wide range of options for companies, clubs, associations, schools, colleges and charities.  It can provide presentation gifts, members’ merchandise or 

corporate gifts and give-aways.

Company, club and university logos create a special feeling of belonging, loyalty and identity.  Toye’s designers are highly experienced in incorporating logos and crests into tie and scarves, cufflinks, medals, badges and brooches.  They work with bank and building societies, airlines and accountants, helping them promote individual brands and corporate messages to staff and 

current and prospective customers.

Toye, Kenning & Spencer excel in designing and manufacturing uniquely British gifts.  They can also create a range of individually designed give-aways to suit any budget, including printed badges, mugs, stickers, key fobs, bags, hats and umbrellas.

For more information please contact Bernie Cope on +44 (0) 2476 848 800 

or alternatively email bernie.cope@toye.com

Meet KJD

Keith Davis, Retail Director of KJD Jewellers, a division of Toye, Kenning & Spencer.

Can you introduce KJD Jewellers to us in one sentence?

A small Company, living and breathing the world of cufflinks, eager to push the boundaries of design and to challenge the status quo.

Who are you and what are you in to?

I’m Keith, founder of KJD.  What am I into?  Well, anything creative I guess.  At work - designing cufflinks, naturally.  At home - playing the piano, listening to (mostly classical) music and writing.  I’m partial to a good book too.

How did KJD Jewellers come about?

After completing a Law & Politics degree at London University, I decided to take a change of direction and try my hand at a start-up.  The challenge of creating a new business and developing a product that would turn into a successful brand seemed far more exciting that pursuing a career in either law or politics.  And, looking back on the past 17 years, I can honestly say it’s been very exciting!

What are your design inspirations?

Inspiration comes from everywhere to be honest - nature, art, sports.  You name it.  We have even designed cufflinks based on manhole covers!

Where do you see your company in 5 years time?

Still manufacturing the finest cufflinks and seeing them for sale in the very best shops. 

Do you have any advice or tips for any other aspiring entrepreneurs?

It sounds corny but don’t be afraid to pursue your goals.  Be sure of yourself and your ideas.  You will also need this resolve to tackle often aggressive competitors, who will do their utmost to keep you out of the market.  Be stalwart and you’ll get through!

What are your ethical motivations?  ie what are the issues that get you fired up?!

I am a firm believer in meritocracy.  No one has a ‘right to business.’  If you’re the best at what you do, then you should reap the rewards.

Can you tell us a bit about why you chose to use cufflinks?

It was both destined and random at the same time.  ‘Destined’ because both my parents had been manufacturing jewellers, which provided me with a familiarity around jewellery; ‘random’ because they never produced cufflinks.  For my part, as a cufflink wearer, I thought the choice in the market was very limited.  It was an area where I thought I could contribute something positive.