After almost 50 years in the jewellery industry, Helen and Rob Ely have announced their retirement, with their departure also marking the closure of their Pandora Penrith store.
Though they both began their careers with York Jewellers, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month and is being run by their son Douglas, Helen and Rob’s affiliation with Pandora began two decades ago, with just a small display box of charms.
“It was in a beautiful piano finish box on our counter in York Jewellers,” Helen said.
“We weren’t really a big silver store, but it grew and grew and grew.”
What was one box quickly became 20, with the Elys building up a full section of Pandora jewellery inside York Jewellers until 2010, when they launched the concept store at Westfield Penrith.
Helen and Rob said they couldn’t have loved their time with the store more, getting to be involved in the special milestones of so many local people through their jewellery.
“They turn 21, and then some of them get engaged, and then we see them when they finish at uni, when they get married, or when they’re having babies,” Helen said.
“It’s so lovely to be a part of that.”
Working for the world’s largest jewellery business also provided them with a host of incredible opportunities, particularly given that the Penrith store was consistently one of the most successful in Australasia.
“We’ve travelled overseas with Pandora, we’ve gone to their factory and seen how the product’s made, how good they are with their teams in Europe and at their head office in Copenhagen,” Rob said.
“It’s been a wonderful experience!”
Whilst they’ve now made the tough decision to retire, Rob and Helen said they certainly have plenty to look forward to.
“We’re really proud. It’s been a long journey, especially with York being 50 years this year. I’ve been in it for 48 years, all the way through from an apprentice!” Rob said.
“It’s the end of an era, but it’s also exciting times ahead. It’s time to enjoy our lives; lots more travel, but family is most important to us, and we’ll be around to support them as much as possible.”
After the store closes under their ownership this Sunday, August 11, Pandora will be taking it back to run it as an owner operated store in the same location, meaning shoppers won’t have to wait long until they can visit once again.
Current plans are that the store could reopen as soon as next weekend, with much of the same staff.
“All the team members, which we’re happy about, are moving on to work with Pandora. Everyone who had a job still has a job, which we’re grateful about,” Rob said.
With Pandora Penrith closing this Sunday, Rob and Helen are hoping to see as many people come in as possible to say goodbye, and shop the sales.
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.