Peter Beck founded the Peter W Beck Company in 1976 alongside his wife, Ann Beck. The pair worked tirelessly over four decades, creating a market-leading provider of precious metals products and services.
As a proudly South Australian company, BECKS will feature prominently at the Australian Jewellery Fair as a major sponsor, joined by Duraflex Group Australia and Unison Jewellery.
Amid severe turbulence in the Australian economy, BECKS CEO Gavin Baird said that the demise of local manufacturing across many industries was deeply regrettable. Based in Adelaide, he said that the company’s internal philosophy - “be good at what we are good at” – has kept the company well-positioned.
"In my lifetime, I have seen so many manufacturers, some multinational, some national and some significant ones, think Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and Bridgestone, to name a few, that have disappeared, and other iconic Aussie companies like Rip Curl and Billabong, which have shifted their manufacturing operations offshore," he said.
"For BECKS, or for that matter any manufacturer, regardless of the industry, to still be in operation in Australia in today’s operating environment is testament to many strategic and commercial decisions that have to be made to navigate the pressure and challenges every hour of every day.
"Now, 50 years since our founder Peter Beck chose, with wife Ann’s approval, to start a business instead of putting in a swimming pool, the journey and incredible story that was Peter W Beck and now BECKS began, and continues today."
As the story goes, Peter fell in love with the jewellery industry while starting his career in Adelaide. In the early days, he developed a passion for precious metals. Peter married Ann in 1979, and one evening proposed a simple plan to her: with $5,000 in savings, the pair could either buy a block of land or start a business.
Ann Beck passed away in September 2021, and Peter in December of the same year. Shortly before their passing, Greville Ingham returned to the family business working with Peter, and his daughters Carol and Jenni. Today, the sisters have moved into a managing director position and work closely with Baird as CEO.
At last year’s International Jewellery Fair in Sydney in August, the trio showcased a BECKS brand redesign, the result of more than 12 months of exhaustive planning. Baird said that the reception to the redesign, new products, and an overhaul of retailer support was well-received.
“Recent experiences have reinforced our commitment to quality, service, and innovation, and reminded us that the fundamentals of resilience and adaptability remain at the heart of our business,” Baird explained.
“BECKS was built to stay the course and provide careers and security for our team. In our 50th year and beyond, we will continue to innovate, deliver quality products, provide the best service and do everything we can to support the jewellery industry and our valued customers, here and in New Zealand.”
Baird continued: “It’s what Peter discovered as the recipe for success, and it still tastes good today.”
The Australian Jewellery Fair will be hosted at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 19-20 April. For additional information or to register, visit the Australian Jewellery Fair website.
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