WORKING HOURS VOLUME 2:2021

Episode 13 now available – Help me in my mission

Work Is A Treasure Hunt Working Hours

Recorded on 11/09/2025Jessica Spencer runs Aladdin’s Cave Jewellery, a third-generation family run business in Queens Arcade Leeds, alongside her mum, Roberta. The shop has been in the same location for over 45 years.From being a little girl, Jessica always loved 'treasure hunting'. She’s always loved the stories that antique and vintage Jewellery pieces carry, the idea that someone wore and cherished each piece long before it reached their shop. That’s why Aladdin’s Cave focus on sourcing unusual, one-of-a-kind treasures for people who want something with meaning, not just another mass-produced trinket. The shop itself is crammed full, every corner bursting with curiosities and a window display packed to the brim! it really does feel like stepping into a treasure trove. From Art Deco engagement rings to Victorian mourning jewellery, and even quirky little finds like silver napkin rings, their collection is a celebration of history, beauty, and craftsmanship.Run in the early days by Jessica’s grandpa and auntie, before her parents took it over in the late 90s. Sadly, though, Jessica’s Father died in 2003, which is when Jess stepped in and started her antique jewellery journey proper. She had just finished a Broadcast Journalism degree at Leeds Uni and was still trying to make it in the highly competitive TV industry. Jessica says, “I always thought I would go back to it, but over 20 years later I'm still here, and love my job now, way more than I did in my 20s and 30s”. For a long time, Jessica worked in the shop itself, but after maternity leave and having two kids it made more much more sense for her to work from home and concentrate on the website, marketing and everything needed behind the scenes. Her favourite part of the job though, is still sourcing beautiful antique jewellery at auctions and fairs. From everyday jumble sales and car boots up to the more prestigious end of art and jewellery fairs. Jewellery really is in Jessica’s blood.You can find Aladdin's Cave online at:https://www.instagram.com/aladdinscaveleeds/https://www.facebook.com/aladdinscaveleeds/https://www.aladdinscavejewellery.co.uk/

Help me in my mission to find 1000 Loiners over this decade and ask them the 2nd question everybody asks me – what do you do?

Episode 13 was published on Monday and is already the most popular episode (so far). In this episode I speak to a Loiner based in Manchester and working as a freelance TV researcher.

Support this show:

  • Help me improve my production quality
  • Advertise the project in Leeds to Loiners
  • Help me find new listeners and guests

For just a pound a month you’ll get exclusive bonus episodes and material as you help me to find new Loiners – more potential guests, listeners and subscribers. If you are from outside Leeds and you find the show interesting and would also like to hear more of it, then you too can support this show for £5 a month. (Consider it a tourist tax – it’s unfair but, you can also cheat it.)

The 2020s is a pivotal decade for our species and our home. So, I want to interview 1000 people from my home over this decade to record their thoughts and feelings around “WORK” and I want to show how their opinions change over this time; along with their ways of working and the sorts of work they are doing.

#tellmeaboutitleeds Leeds, what do you do? #bemyguestleeds Leeds, be on Working Hours #workinghoursleeds get in touch to be on the show #helpmyquestleeds support the shows historic civic mission.


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