£100,000 Investment in Dylan’s Den as Crystal Shop Expands in Wales

Development Bank of Wales , 13th July 2023

Dylan’s Den Crystal Shop, an independent crystal and giftware retail business, is expanding with the opening of a new shop in Aberystwyth.

Part-funded by a £100,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales, the new shop on Great Darkgate Street is the fourth in the Dylan Jones Group, with the first having opened in Tregaron in 2021. Other high street locations now include Monnow Street, Monmouth and Terrace Road, Aberystwyth. Plans are in progress for a further two Welsh stores for 2023/24.

Caitlin Jones, Retail Director, Dylan's Den; Donna Williams, Senior Portfolio Executive, Development Bank of Wales

Established by property professional Dylan Jones, Dylan’s Den now employs 16 staff and is managed by daughter Caitlin Jones as Retail Director. At just 24 years of age and with a background in hospitality and retail, including two years on the shop floor of Dylan’s Den, Caitlin has quickly developed to now take responsibility for the day to day running of the four shops and all staff.

Dylan Jones said:

“With a background in retail property, I understand the challenges faced by local high streets, but also recognise the valuable role that they have in communities. I believe that people still very much enjoy the shopping experience, but as a business you have to be relevant and focussed on providing the right products. It is also important to provide an excellent personal customer experience that you can’t get online, which is largely perfunctory in nature. Caitlin and I believe that the foundation of our business is customer service because a delighted customer is a returning customer.”

“Caitlin and I have worked together to quickly grow Dylan’s Den from what started as an idea for a small single independent shop, into a profitable and scalable business, specialising in crystals, jewellery and gifts. The support from the Development Bank has allowed us to complete the fit out of the new Aberystwyth store to a very high quality which mirrors our future ambitions for further growth.”

Caitlin Jones said:

“With over 100 different types of crystals, we have quickly become the go-to high street shop for natural crystals and gemstone jewellery. We also stock locally made candle products and we are an official Neal’s Yard stockist. It’s really exciting to be part of the business and to have the opportunity to help grow it as we expand with more stores on Welsh high streets.”

Donna Williams is a Senior Portfolio Executive with the Development Bank. She said:

“Dylan’s Den is bringing increased footfall to local high streets with a great range of natural products. With Dylan’s support, Caitlin is well-placed to grow their presence at the heart of community life.”

The £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund is financed by the Welsh Government and Development Bank of Wales. Loans, mezzanine finance, and equity investments are available for businesses based in Wales from £25,000 to £10 million.

Mae Crystal Shop Dylan's Den, busnes adwerthu grisialau ac anrhegion annibynnol, yn ehangu gydag agoriad siop newydd yn Aberystwyth.

Cafodd ei hariannu'n rhannol gan fenthyciad o £100,000 gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru, y siop newydd ar y Stryd Fawr yw'r bedwaredd yng Ngrŵp Dylan Jones, gyda'r gyntaf wedi agor yn Nhregaron yn 2021. Mae lleoliadau stryd fawr eraill bellach yn cynnwys Monnow Street, Trefynwy a Ffordd Teras, Aberystwyth. Mae cynlluniau ar y gweill ar gyfer dwy siop arall yng Nghymru ar gyfer 2023/24.

Cafodd ei sefydlu gan y gweithiwr eiddo proffesiynol Dylan Jones, ac mae Dylan's Den bellach yn cyflogi 16 o staff ac yn cael ei reoli gan ei ferch Caitlin Jones fel Cyfarwyddwr Manwerthu. A hithau yn ddim ond 24 oed a chyda chefndir mewn lletygarwch a manwerthu, gan gynnwys dwy flynedd ar lawr siop Dylan's Den, mae Caitlin wedi datblygu'n gyflym i gymryd cyfrifoldeb am redeg y pedair siop o ddydd i ddydd a'r holl staff.

Dywedodd Dylan Jones:

“Gyda chefndir mewn eiddo manwerthu, rwy’n deall yr heriau y mae strydoedd mawr lleol yn eu hwynebu, ond hefyd yn cydnabod y rôl werthfawr sydd ganddynt mewn cymunedau. Rwy'n credu bod pobl yn dal i fwynhau'r profiad siopa yn fawr, ond fel busnes mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn berthnasol a chanolbwyntio ar ddarparu'r cynnyrch cywir. Mae hefyd yn bwysig darparu profiad cwsmer personol rhagorol na allwch ei gael ar-lein, sydd i raddau helaeth yn anfuddiol o ran ei natur. Mae Caitlin a minnau’n credu mai sylfaen ein busnes yw gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid oherwydd bod cwsmer wrth ei fodd yn gwsmer sy’n dychwelyd.”

“Mae Caitlin a minnau wedi gweithio gyda’n gilydd i dyfu Dylan’s Den yn gyflym o’r hyn a ddechreuodd fel syniad ar gyfer siop fach annibynnol unigol, i fod yn fusnes proffidiol a graddadwy, yn arbenigo mewn crisialau, gemwaith ac anrhegion. Mae’r gefnogaeth gan y Banc Datblygu wedi ein galluogi i gwblhau’r gwaith o osod y siop newydd yn Aberystwyth i safon uchel iawn sy’n adlewyrchu ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer twf pellach yn y dyfodol.”

Meddai Caitlin Jones:

“Gyda dros 100 o wahanol fathau o grisialau, rydym wedi dod yn siop boblogaidd ar y stryd fawr ar gyfer crisialau naturiol a gemwaith carreg. Rydym hefyd yn stocio cynnyrch canhwyllau a wnaed yn lleol ac rydym yn stociwr swyddogol Neal's Yard. Mae’n gyffrous iawn bod yn rhan o’r busnes a chael y cyfle i helpu i’w dyfu wrth i ni ehangu gyda mwy o siopau ar strydoedd mawr Cymru.”

Mae Donna Williams yn Uwch Swyddog Portffolio gyda'r Banc Datblygu. Meddai:

“Mae Dylan's Den yn denu mwy o bobl i'r stryd fawr leol gydag ystod eang o gynhyrchion naturiol. Gyda chefnogaeth Dylan, mae Caitlin mewn sefyllfa dda i dyfu eu presenoldeb wrth galon bywyd cymunedol.”

Ariennir Cronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru gwerth £500 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru. Mae benthyciadau, cyllid mesanîn, a buddsoddiadau ecwiti ar gael i fusnesau yng Nghymru o £25,000 i £10 miliwn.