Orkney jewellery brand Ortak is making a return to the trade fair circuit for the first time since the brand was relaunched in May.
The company behind it will attend Scotland’s Trade Fair event in Glasgow next month, nearly two years after the previous Ortak business went bust due to the recession and the soaring cost of silver.
Just before its collapse, Ortak employed about 150 people – half of them in Orkney and the rest at shops in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Livingston, Stirling, Orkney, Newcastle and Sheffield.
It owed more than £3million, including about £900,000 to ordinary – mainly trade – creditors.
Manufacturing at the firm’s factory at Hatson ended earlier this year, while stores closed one by one in an effort to sell off stock.
But Ortak – promoted by celebrities such as singer Myleene Klass, dancer Flavia Cacace and weather presenter Cat Cubie – has made a comeback.
The new business is led by majority shareholder and managing director Michael Gardens, the production manager of the former Ortak company, and Alison Firth, a finance professional from Castletown, in Caithness.
Ortak has a new retail outlet in Kirkwall and production is being carried out at a former dental surgery in the town.
Mr Gardens said: “We’re really looking forward to taking part in the Scotland’s Trade Fair event as it’s a real milestone for our new company, which is going from strength to strength.
“Having a presence at such a major national show is vital and represents an opportunity for us to showcase our range and give a taste of what our plans are for the continued development of the Ortak brand.”
He added: “The run-up to Christmas has been exceptionally busy for us, both in our Kirkwall shop and through our online business, and we’d like to thank everyone in Orkney and further afield who has supported our return to the market.”