30 years in retail: a shopkeeper's tale - part two

My Shopkeeper Story

Back in 2011, I was feeling a little bit stuck. Nothing particularly bad had happened, but at 33, I felt ready for my life to really get going. In 2012, I made a simple resolution: to say yes more often and nudge the edges of my comfort zone. Not bungee jumping or solo flights across the Atlantic—just learning to see things as opportunities instead of obstacles.

In those early months, I started going out more. I dabbled in background artist work on TV, bought an aquarium, and arranged a pirate-themed night out with friends. The sense of optimism in the air - thanks to the London Olympics and the Jubilee - was contagious. By summer, it felt like anything was possible.

I am a big fan of Mary Portas, and her 'Bottom Line' television programme about British manufacturing came at exactly the right time that year. Growing up as a farmer's daughter, I was constantly reminded of the importance of buying locally grown and locally made products. To an eye-rolling teenager, it seemed the most tedious thing in the world, but the older I got, the more it made sense. The world is full of wonderful things that we will always need to import, but buying British-made means fewer air miles, lower CO₂ emissions, and a stronger local economy.

On 15th July 2012, I told my parents that ‘one day’ I was going to open a shop called Happy & Glorious, selling British made products. Their response was positive, and when I got home, I set up the social media accounts, signed up to go to a trade show, enquired about my first supplier and had bought the domain name. I'm not one to spend a long time in the considering phase!

Some early product photography and my first gift fair in Westerham, Kent.

Side hustling...

Whilst I am a person that make quick decisions, I knew that leaving employment would be a reckless plan (I was already working two part-time jobs to make ends meet) so I planned to keep working, and to use evenings, weekends and annual leave to run my tiny business. I had worked hard to save up a deposit so that I could buy a home, but found that my solo income was not enough to secure a mortgage, so I resolved to use some of this capital to put my dreams into action.

I didn’t know the first thing about websites or e-commerce. All I had was a helpful friend, a GCSE in photography, and a stubborn streak that - whilst often unhelpful - served me well at this time!

 

Meeting my hero, Mary Portas in 2015

Launching Happy & Glorious

I created mood boards, developed colour palettes, and found a tiny e-commerce website building company with a drag and drop capability, so I could learn as I went. I attended my first trade show as a self-employed person, and reached out to companies that I found online that shared my convictions, and placed my first orders. I resolved to only buy things that I genuinely loved, and my guiding principle was to only stock products that I would have in my home if money were no object. This concept still shapes my buying choices today.

I launched my website on 28th August 2012. It felt incredibly momentous as I waited for the orders to start rolling in! Of course, it wasn’t that simple - in my first month of trading, I received just one order for £21. From my auntie. But I still remember the first order that came through from someone who wasn’t a relative - it was a giddying feeling.

Branching out

In 2013, I learned about the British Family Fayre, taking place in Westerham. The British Family were the Bradshaws, who had publicly resolved to buy only British made products for one year. They celebrated this with an event filled with exhibitors that specialised in locally made products, and I was excited to book a stand. 

I loved getting back in front of customers. Online selling had been a big learning curve, and one that I really enjoyed, but there really is no substitute for talking to people in real life - letting them see, sniff, and touch the lovely products I sold, and gathering feedback from humans is vital for any business in the retail industry.

A favourite gift fair of mine was the oddly successful Wild Camel Protection Foundation racing day! 

What followed was another year of gift fairs all over Kent, with varying levels of success. From the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair, to teeny village hall events, and even a camel racing day, I always seemed to be placed opposite a homemade cookie or cake stand, so even when sales were slow, at least I never went hungry!

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!