Besides the upgrade of equipment, other practices, both simple and more complex, have been integrated into the everyday activities of the business throughout the years. Specifically, in the last 15 years, the jewellery workshop of the Angeli family has introduced drastic changes, which have significantly improved the performance of the business, both financially and environmentally. Additionally, during the last few years, Mr. Kimonas’s son Harris has joined the business and has introduced new ideas for the provision of new products and services, while also making his family venture a greener place. Recently, Mr. Harris has introduced 3D Design and Printing practices for the creation of jewelleries, which has already been a game-changer for the business. The examples for the green transition of the company vary.
Chemicals
The first example involves chemical substances which are essential in the profession of a goldsmith. Throughout the years, harmful cleaning agents such as acid and borax, were modified to minimise their detrimental effects on human and environmental health. As Mr. Kimonas Angeli explained, the vast majority of these harmful cleaning agents and other substances were replaced with healthier and more environmentally friendly options. In addition, the business made a conscious decision to replace these chemicals with the most environmentally friendly options available, even though these options were more costly.
Machinery
Throughout the years and while new pieces of equipment in the jewelry sector were constantly released, the company did not always possess the financial flexibility to proceed with costly investments for state-of-the-art machinery. However, Mr. Kimonas knew that the business ought to remain competitive, in terms of new technologies and equipment. Consequently, in each case, the company kept upgrading its equipment with machines that would improve certain everyday processes, while also being affordable to the shop’s budget. Moreover, the recent addition of 3D design and printing equipment from Mr. Harris Angeli has optimized certain processes and has broadened the commercial opportunities for the family business.
Based on the above, the overall equipment upgrade has led to a multitude of benefits:
- Safer and more environmentally friendly practices in everyday core activities of the business
- More time-efficient processes for the creation and reparation of jewelleries, resulting in a higher volume of production and fulfilled orders
- Significantly lower costs in energy etc.
Digitalization
Another significant aspect of Mr. Harris Angeli’s contribution to the green transition of the business involves a number of digitalization practices. First of all, the company has managed to minimise the use of paper in some cases or even going paperless in others. This was achieved by digitalizing many document-related administrative tasks, thus streamlining many processes which used to demand excessive use of paper (and time). Additionally, the company now operates an e-shop, which has managed to establish a strong online presence and has already attracted new customers and new orders, both from Cyprus and from abroad.
Other Practices
Along with the changes, the family also implemented some simpler, but equally important practices. The examples include the replacement of conventional light bulbs with LED lighting and recycling inside the premises of the company. Overall, the green transition of the company has been a collective effort from all family members in the Angeli family. Each person contributed through their own efforts towards a greener business.
Barriers along the way
According to both interviewees, the biggest challenges the company had to overcome were:
- Financial constraints (added to the considerable investments of such family companies in security and other specialized equipment to safeguard their inventory).
- Time needed to get accustomed to emerging technologies and equipment, while also being alert to always stay up to date (while getting accustomed to a relatively new piece of equipment, new practices, technologies and machines emerge at the same time).
