A market trader combined his love of making things and travel to set up his own business selling custom jewellery at hotels and events across Bermuda.Arthur Wales, a retired contractor, started producing and buying his items in partnership with his ex-wife Roseann but went his own way when the couple parted.Since then he has been hawking his wares everywhere from St George’s to Dockyard at the likes of Harbour Nights, Destination Dockyard, the Olde Towne Market and at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort on demand from repeat tourists and visitors.Mr Wales, who has been in business for almost seven years now, said that the favourite part of his line of work was meeting a wide variety of different people from all over the world and enjoying some good-humoured banter with the customers.“I remember one day a cruise ship came to town at high tide and a tourist asked me why the water was so high,” he said.“I joked that the Island had sunk a few inches because there were so many tourists. So he walked around the square and had a closer look at the water and came back and pointed at me saying ‘You really had me there’.“We both never laughed so much - I think that made his day.”Mr Wales, who is the chairman of St George’s Market Nights Festival, trades everything from ‘sumer wear’ necklaces and earrings to bracelets and ankle bracelets made of leather, jade and sea, coconut and puka shells in 500 different styles to suit all sexes, ages and tastes.He said that it was the perfect business to be in if you were out of work, retired or just looking to make an extra bit of cash, particularly given the current economic climate.“I go all over Bermuda and sell a lot of jewellery,” he said.“I’m always kept busy - whether it is at Harbour Nights or Dockyard or setting up my stall to sell jewellery to tourists who come back every year to Grotto Bay Beach Resort looking for me.“So far business has been pretty good to me I would say.”Mr Wales’ van doubles as his office, with three display tables on the roof and his jewellery racks stacked up in the back, he travels from place to place whatever the weather, while carrying out maintenance and odd jobs, whether it be carrying out repairs to a house or fixing a swimming pool. His only fixed base is a shop in St George’s - Wales Accessories - which opened three years ago, and being on the road most of the time means that he saves on overheads.He is also well travelled, with a place in Florida, where he sources the bulk of his materials and knows exactly what his clientele like with a market for both locals and tourists. And pitching his prices at a reasonable rate of around $8 to $14 has enabled him to cater to tourists looking for a little piece of Bermuda to take home to their family and friends.“I believe that I am gifted and am good at what I do, as well as really enjoying it, which helps,” he said of the secret to his success.“I also know a lot of people through my work and that has allowed me to build up more business that way.”Instilled with a hard work ethic from an early age as one of the eldest of a family of 15 children, Mr Wales started caddying at the Mid Ocean Club when he was only nine and went on to become a commercial fisherman before discovering his talent for building and renovating houses and getting into the profession by teaching himself the trade.Mr Wales has passed on his workman’s skills to his two sons - Leroy, a plumber with the Department of Works and Engineering, and his namesake Arthur, an electrician who works at Cable & Wireless.“I will continue doing this until I can no longer,” he said.For more information contact Arthur Wales on 536-2221.