Romsey’s high street has a new anchor tenant after Eliza Marti, a handcrafted jewellery boutique, opened its doors at 8 Cornmarket Street on Monday. The shop’s arrival follows a £1,200 Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council, part of a wider push to repopulate vacant ground-floor spaces in the town centre.
Zhirayr Martirosyan, who previously ran a jewellery workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria, relocated to the UK six years ago. He spent the intervening years refining his craft as a jewellery repair technician at Ernest Jones, building a reputation for precision and artistry. Martirosyan’s decision to open a standalone shop in Romsey marks a return to his roots—he once owned a boutique in his hometown before expanding internationally.
Key Points
- ✅ £1,200 grant funds first Romsey jewellery shop in 12 years
- ⚡ Martirosyan brings two decades of jewellery experience to the town
- 💡 Grant paid in two instalments after three and nine months of trading
Town councillor Nik Daas, whose ward includes Romsey Abbey, said Martirosyan’s venture aligns with the council’s goal of revitalising the high street. ‘Independent retailers are the heartbeat of places like Romsey,’ Daas said. ‘Bringing a skilled artisan into a previously empty unit sets a strong example for other small businesses.’
| Aspect | Eliza Marti | Average Romsey shop |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily footfall | 80-100 | 50-70 |
| Product range | Handcrafted rings, custom engravings, repairs | Mass-produced accessories |
| Local supplier ratio | 70% | 30% |
The grant, administered through the council’s Independent Retailer Support Scheme, is designed to offset startup costs for businesses occupying vacant units. Martirosyan confirmed the first £600 instalment has already been used to refurbish the shopfront, install bespoke display cases, and source sustainable materials from UK-based artisans.
💡 Pro Tip
Small jewellers should prioritise storytelling in their store layout. Displaying the tools used in repairs or before-and-after images of restored pieces builds emotional connections with customers.
Martirosyan plans to open the shop on Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours during the holiday season. His workshop will operate behind a glass partition, allowing customers to watch intricate processes like stone setting and metal engraving in real time—a rarity in modern retail jewellery.
📋 By The Numbers
- 1 — Number of independent jewellers in Romsey prior to Eliza Marti’s opening
- 6,300 — Square feet of retail space Test Valley Borough Council has targeted for repurposing since 2022
Council records show that 23 vacant units across Romsey’s town centre have been filled since the grant scheme launched in 2021. Martirosyan’s shop is the first jewellery business to benefit from the initiative, though the council has also supported cafes, bookshops, and a boutique bakery in recent months. The next round of grants is expected to open in October, with a £50,000 budget allocated for the financial year.
- 📊 Romsey’s jewellery market was last active in 2011, when a chain store closed its high street outlet
- 🔍 Martirosyan’s custom engravings start at £45 and handmade rings at £320
- ⚠️ Local traders report a 15% decline in footfall since 2019, making initiatives like this critical
For now, Martirosyan is focused on establishing trust. ‘People here don’t just want jewellery,’ he said. ‘They want craftsmanship they can see, touch, and trust. That’s what I’m offering.’