Michael Wainwright is Managing Director and co-owner of Boodles, the British society jeweller, which has nine stores in London and its heartland of northwest England. Soon after the opening of the brand?s spectacular new flagship on London?s Old Bond Street, he spoke to LUX  as part of our on-going Luxury Leaders series, about Britishness, the retail experience, and possibly going to America.
Michael Wainwright
LUX: What is the state of play for the luxury industry"

Michael Wainwright: Our business is less tied to the economy than you might think. We are more dependent on wealthier people who don?t lose their wealth overnight. My thinking these days, after years of economic crises, is fairly optimistic. The prognosis is pretty good for the luxury goods and jewellery sector. The world is a richer place than it has ever been and people will continue buying. LUX: Boodles is the only significant British jeweller and one of the only family-owned ones anywhere. How important is that"

MW: Britishness is important to our business. British people like to deal with a British brand and our overseas clients love to deal with ?Britishness?. British clients account for 75% of our business. Telling the British story is important for us, and also the family story: we are a family business, and maybe we don?t tell that story enough.
Read next: LVMH and Hublot?s leading man, Jean-Claude Biver on personalising luxury 
The Boodles boutique on Bond Street
Inside the newly refurbi...