A JEWELLERY company run by two sisters has opened its first retail premises with a boutique inside The Corinthian in Glasgow.

Shona Bain and Sheena Jack are creating two new jobs in Sheenashona Jewellery with their latest venture.

The duo have been building up the company since June 2011 and have seen steady growth through the online shop it opened at the start of 2012.

Now following on from the success of a six week pop-up store in The Corinthian in the autumn of last year the sisters have agreed terms with Stefan King's G1 Group to take a permanent space in the bar, restaurant and casino complex.

The boutique, started trading yesterday and will stay open until 9pm some nights.

Design firm Graven Images, which works with G1 on its bars and restaurants, has helped to fit out the space to make sure it fits with The Corinthian's decor.

Sheenashona, which has its registered office in Irvine, North Ayrshire, creates and sells sterling silver and gold designs with diamonds and pearls.

Shona Bain, a former oil and gas executive with Shell and Petrofac, believes the addition of a traditional retail store is a vote of confidence in the power of the high street.

She said: "We didn't want it to be just another boring jewellery shop.

"We'd always dreamed of owning a bar and jewellery shop and some people we talked to thought we were mad.

"But you can come in and have a glass of wine or get some afternoon tea and come and look at our diamonds and pearls.

"We think it is great place for women to buy jewellery but also not intimidating for men."

The business also intends to run jewellery themed exhibitions throughout the year to further entice customers.

The first will be based around the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered.

Ms Bain said: "It will extend to products as well. It won't just be pieces with prices next to them.

"We want there to be interesting information about the piece and its provenance."

According to Ms Bain this information will include items such as how a pearl is created and details about the properties of precious metals.

Ms Jack, who previously worked in marketing and design with Gio Benedetti at Wallace Cameron, believes the business is benefiting from strong relationships with suppliers ranging from packaging firm Interpak to law firm Harper Macleod.

She commented: "We are very clear on our strategy and what we are trying to achieve and believe if you build strong relationships with your suppliers where possible they will help and support you.

"We are sure the store will be very successful."

The five-storey 270-year-old building housing The Corinthian was closed for eight months in 2010 during a near £6m revamp carried out by G1 ahead of the opening in August that year. The site was formerly the home of tobacco lord William Buchanan and the Union Bank.

G1 runs more than 40 sites across Scotland covering restaurants, cinemas bars and hotels.