30 years in retail: a shopkeeper's tale - part three
My Shopkeeper Story
Pop-up shops had been gaining traction since the early noughties, but really seemed to become a 'thing' in 2014. The high street had been struggling since the 2008 financial crisis, and companies like PopUp Britain and Appear Here were forming to help small businesses test out the high street in an affordable way.
I used the annual leave from my office job to exhibit at a popup in Ashford in 2014. It was an amazing project - designed to fill an enormous empty shop with a collective of entrepreneurs that could work together, learn together and help each other out. I was there for two weeks and met some fantastic business owners and mentors through the programme. In spring 2015, I had a solo pop-up in Tunbridge Wells for a week. Despite my previous years of retail experience, it was such a valuable learning curve. Everything is different when it's your own business!
My Appear Here popup shop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent in 2015
Studio space...
As the business grew, and the pop-up shops, fairs and online sales increased, so did the space that the stock took up in my home! I decided that I needed storage, and looked into spaces where I could host art exhibitions, store all of my wares, and work on creating my own designs, which was always part of my long-term plan.
My sister spotted a tiny, three-line advert in a local free paper, for a studio space, available at a very fair price. I went to view it. Walking down the tree lined avenue made my heart leap with excitement! A row of former stables was tucked away in the most gorgeous garden, and I couldn't believe my good fortune that one had come up for rent. Within hours, I had the key, and had filled the little studio with my products.
Whilst I was still working in an office, I cut down to four days, and Fridays were blissfully spent in the studio. I designed mugs, pocket mirrors, cards and badges from the space, worked on the website and used the perfect natural light for product photography too. I hosted some guest artists, and had friends and family visiting me for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
It was here in October that I received a pivotal visitor; Jo Wynn-Carter, who had been my mentor at the pop-up shop in Ashford. She had a background in indie retail and loved what I was doing with Happy & Glorious. As part of a Portas Pilot Scheme regeneration project, Ashford Borough Council had bought the shopping centre where the pop-up had been, and they were keen to fill it with independent businesses. A tiny unit was available, and she suggested that I enquire about taking it on for a year. It was the opportunity that I had been waiting for.
By November 2015, I had handed in my notice at work, and at the studio, (the latter was a bit of a wrench!) and was preparing for the big move.
My first tiny shop in Ashford, Kent
Shop life
I opened on 14th December 2015. I felt giddy to be back behind the counter, working on my business full time. I worked closely with the Love Ashford team, who worked so hard to give the town a much-needed boost, and cared so much about what they were doing. I received training and advice, and in return, I worked with an alliance of other independent businesses, to create events to drive footfall, to support one another and to make Ashford a happier place. It was an incredibly formative time, and I am so lucky that many of the business owners are still amongst my closest friends.
I had mixed feelings when my year was up. Whilst I had enjoyed my time in Ashford, the business had outgrown the tiny space, and the 30 mile round trip commute, six or seven days per week, was taking a toll on my energy levels! Looking back, the year in Ashford taught me so much - about business, resilience and the joys of community. It was the right time to move on, however, and I next looked to Cranbrook - the little town where I went to school - for my next adventure.
Coming up next...
In the next installment, I’ll be sharing more about my next steps - pop-up shops, a studio and my first high street space!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments below!