A long time ago in Barcelona airport, Jez discovered a new brand of wallet called Secrid. The on-trend jetsetter that he is (was!?) couldn’t leave it behind and he’s remained brand loyal ever since.
If you’re really lucky he’ll show the original he purchased back then – but more likely he’ll show you his bang on EYES on St Albans brand yellow one that’s currently in use. Then he’ll show you the ones he’s got in the shop and explain why he loves them just so much.
European made by a family business.
Sound familiar?
Like many of our glasses brands in the store, Secrid is a family business that started right back with a pair of teenagers dating in 1979. They are very public about the fact that their business journey has not been a smooth one. Highlights have included being invited to meet Sir Terence Conran in 1986 having won a design competition in Holland, getting their first patent in 1995 and winning the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for their cardholder in 2010. They’ve also experienced extremely tough times – they were hard by the financial crisis in 2008 and narrowly avoided bankruptcy in 2009 – relying on food bank deliveries from friends to survive.
It was this crisis that changed their outlook from creating new products to making the best cardholder in the world.
They’d been making cardholders for some time – to protect these new fangled ‘chip & pin’ cards. As the technology developed for contactless payments, so did the awareness that these cards could be extremely susceptible to fraudulent use and potentially cloning from a distance.
Amidst the financial turmoil of the crash in 2008, this technology was rapidly developing and Secrid took 2 major decisions that have led them to be where they are today.
Firstly, in 2009, to make all their wallets in their home country of Holland – not in the Far East. They consciously opted for local production and honed a product design that makes this possible. They insist on good working conditions and production processes that are as clean as possible. By producing locally, they can better communicate with suppliers – not only improving the process, but also the ability to guarantee the best quality possible. Secrid continue to be proud to work together with social enterprises for nearly all our assembly work.
Secondly, in 2010, expanding their product range and launching their mission that still remains today:
“To increase awareness that everything and everyone is part of a larger whole and that small acts can have a large impact.”
2022 – B Corp Status
Now with a staff of over 100, a certified B Corp and as ambitious as ever, Secrid are making wallets that protect your cards, look amazing (just come in and see the range of colours they come in!), have a new add-on coin option and continue to lead the world in terms of the protective technology and design of what they call ‘pocketwear’.
Secrid choose their retailers and we’re very proud to be one at EYES on St Albans. Jez is now the only authorised retailer north of London to carry out repairs on the wallets and will replace the mechanism for you, free of charge, while you wait.
Beautiful, durable and created by a company with their heart in creating products that are good for both the planet and people.
Exactly what we believe in here at EYES on St Albans. And great for Christmas presents.
EYES on the EYES on St Albans Collection
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