14 Nov 2023
Summer Elson, manager of the Jigsaw store in Christopher Place, explains what makes it stick out from other fashion outlets.
From luxury cashmere brights to timeless classics, the missing piece in your autumn/winter wardrobe could be tucked away in Christopher Place’s Jigsaw store.
The brand is known for interesting shapes, cosy accessories or quirky designs of a high quality.
Store manager Summer Elson, 26, joined in January and obviously loves about her job: “Working for Jigsaw is a truly rewarding experience. It provides a platform for me to combine my love for fashion, work alongside others who share the same interest and give excellent customer experience.
“The company’s commitment to quality and timeless fashion resonates with me and I’m proud to be part of a brand that values craftmanship and sustainability. “You really do feel part of a family with
Jigsaw, whether that be in your own store or throughout the company.
She added: “At Jigsaw, you are given great opportunities to voice your opinions and be really involved with the pieces. That is through visiting head office regularly and seeing the pieces before they land in stores. We give weekly feedback on what our customers are currently loving and not so much and complete feedback surveys on specific pieces to ensure we’re getting it right every time.”
Not many people realise that the new store has been open almost a year, following the closure of the previous outlet in St Peter’s Street in February 2022, leaving customers devastated.
When the doors opened in Christopher Place, the team was greeted with many customers saying how happy they were to see them back, Summer said.
She stressed that St Albans customers really appreciate authenticity, sustainability and a strong sense of community, and love receiving a personalised shopping experience.
“They value clothing that is timeless,
independent-minded and fun. Those pieces you can wear for years to come!” Having had several Jigsaw snoods for more than a decade, I do agree with Summer: “Rather than following fashion trends we instead provide our customers with something truly unique and beautiful that stands out from other brands. They know to come to us for our tailoring, key leather pieces and exciting collaborations.”
Jigsaw counts many famous people among its fanbase, including investigative journalist Stacey Dooley who worked in the St Albans store a couple of decades ago, around the time that future queen Kate Middleton was employed by the company as a buyer.
Some of these celebrities can be found visiting the St Albans store from time to time, Summer revealed: “We have had many famous people and VIP customers popping in. There have been occasions where we’ve styled an outfit together for them and then watched them wearing it later on TV.”
Whether you are preparing for a special occasion or wanting a wardrobe refresh for the new season, Jigsaw’s expert in-store stylists are there to assist with a personal styling appointment.
They will provide you with one-on-one attention, advice and recommendations designed to help you find the perfect pieces to match your unique style and needs. They will make it an easy and enjoyable experience, have pieces ready and waiting for you to try on and if you book in advance they offer complimentary bubbles!
So what would Summer invest in this season?
“There are so many beautiful pieces to choose from in store at the moment, from the cashmere jumpers to wide leg leather trousers. A great investment piece to choose is one of our Wool Maxi
City Coats – it’s a returning best seller! It really is a timeless classic and this year we have five colours to choose from – the green is my favourite!”
Summer moved to St Albans a couple of years ago and fell in love with the city straight away.
“There’s always something going on – it’s a bustling, vibrant city centre with a really good variety of shops and restaurants to choose from, or just lovely to stroll around with a coffee in hand.”
“Christopher Place has been so welcoming – we’ve received so much support from the centre since opening and also from all the other stores – there’s a great community spirit.”
For more information or to book a styling appointment visit https://www.jigsaw-online.com/pages/store-locator
