For almost 70 years, Smales has been a major player in the WA jewellery and watchmaking markets. And according to the owner of Smales in Kalgoorlie and Subiaco, Ronald Smales, the family business will continue its successful path for many years to come.
His grandfather George Smales started the family legacy Smales Jewellers in Kalgoorlie in 1937. And after returning from serving in the Royal British Air Force, George’s youngest son Ronald George Smales continued the business.
“In 1920 dad (Ronald George) was apprentice to Frank Sclander who had the first watchmaking shop in Kalgoorlie,” Mr Smales said.
“In 1939, dad joined the Royal British Air Force as England was at war and not Australia. His role was to fix and implement watches and gauges on British air craft.
“Meanwhile, grandpop kept the Smales business alive. Dad came home at the end of the war and continued the business and in 1948 I was born.”
Mr Smales became an apprentice to his father (Ronald George) when he was 20 and spent three years in Switzerland working for watch companies including Rolex, Omega and Zenith.
Upon his return to Kalgoorlie, Mr Smales married, started a family and took over the business because his father (Ronald George) had brain cancer and needed to move to Perth with his wife.
“I grew the shop and my son (Joel), who was born deaf, became my apprentice where he excelled and became a good tradesman,” Mr Smales said.
Mr Smales moved to Perth about 15 years ago and opened a second Smales on Rokeby Road, Subiaco and worked between both stores.
“Joel has now taken over the Kalgoorlie shop at the age of 24 and my brother Tony has opened a Smales in Bunbury,” he said.
“We have a Smales’ member in each of our three locations and we hope Joel and Tony’s two daughters follow in our family’s footsteps.”
There are several factors which Mr Smales says contributes to the company being one of the best jewellers in WA.
“Wherever we have opened we have always had watchmakers and apprentices on site,” he said.
“Also our commitment to the WA community is quite unique.”
Family business is without question harder than other businesses according to Mr Smales, because there will always be extra work that family members try to complete, but often it is beyond the capabilities of a small organisation.
“And there have been various challenges along the way, including the rise and fall of Kalgoorlie, having a deaf son and the nature of the industry whereby the smaller jewellery shops are closing or losing control to conglomerates,” he said.
But for Ronald Thomas Smales, his triumph has been proving that a country bloke can move to the city and make it big and honour the work of his father and grandfather.
“Family businesses are declining and that is very scary. The problem family business faces is that not all kids these days want to get involved, but I hope they do,” he said.
