The Shop Independent Show
By Barbara Steadman
I am Barbara Steadman, founder of Love Our Shops UK, (www.loveourshopsuk.com) a shopping directory full of amazing independent shops online. I believe we should all shop independent as much as we possibly can, for our bright and beautiful future. Independent shop owners are so passionate about what they do, every chat with them is inspiring. Have a listen, feel inspired!
The Shop Independent ShowNov 11, 2022
11: Running a Successful Independent Fashion Boutique and Creating Your Own Clothing Brand - With Penny of Colmers Hill Fashion
In this episode I am chatting to Penny of Colmers Hill Fashion and From My Mother's Garden. Colmers Hill Fashion is a hugely successful women's fashion boutique based in Dorset. It is both a bricks and mortar boutique and an online shop.
Penny has been running her own business for many years and is one very busy lady. She definitely has a hard working approach to achieving her dream. She is very passionate about all that she does and this comes across so much in this interview.
Penny has only recently created her own fashion label, From My Mothers Garden. Excitingly, I am recording this intro the day after Penny won British Brand of the Year 2022 for her beautiful own label collection. Awarded by Boutique Magazine, so this is a massive award especially as her fashion brand is so new and she was up against so many other great independent brands. Well done Penny I am so pleased for you and absolutely well deserved.
I am very inspired by this interview. Penny exudes all the qualities of a highly successful business owner. She has vision, passion, faces her fears, takes calculated risks, puts her customer first, works hard and loves what she does. You are going to love this episode.
Colmers Hill Fashion are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
If you are an independent shop, why not join my community of shops gaining visibility, reach and traffic. It would be lovely to have you onboard.
If you are someone who likes to shop independent (I guess you do as you are here :)), I share lots of Shop Independent inspiration in my emails. You can sign up here to receive them.
10: How To Create and Sell Unique Gifts That People Want to Buy - The Chiswick Gift Company
In this episode I am chatting to Sarah of The Chiswick Gift Company. A design studio in London, creating unique gifts and selling them via their online shop, wholesale and at shows.
Sarah has an inspiring business journey. Sarah has been running her business for 20 years. She began after have 3 babies in one year. There were some memory related products that she really wanted and could not find them. So, like lots of other business founders she decided she would create them. That is where her business journey began.
This is such an inspiring interview, Sarah has shared so much about her business journey and given so many brilliant tips on how to be successful in a very difficult market. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.
The Chiswick Gift Company are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
If you are an independent shop, why not join my community of shops gaining visibility, reach and traffic. It would be lovely to have you onboard.
If you are a shopper who likes to shop independent (I guess you do as you are here :)), I share lots of Shop Independent inspiration in my emails. You can sign up here to receive my lovely emails.
9: How To Run a Successful Gift Shop Online and Bricks and Mortar - with Siop Cwlwm
In this episode I am chatting to Lowri of Siop Cwlwm, an online shop selling Welsh gifts and books.
I love Lowri’s business journey. It has been one of steady organic growth, developing the business one small step at a time. From a small idea out of the blue she began testing the market, quite literally, with a market stall and a small online shop. Gradually growing and developing. Then finally opening her very own bricks and mortar shop. All whilst raising a young family.
This is such an inspiring interview, Lowri has shared so much about her business journey and given so many brilliant nuggets of wisdom. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.
Siop Cwlwm are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
8: Sophie Dixon of Seasons Green - How To Run a Successful Gift Shop, Gallery and Online Store
In this episode I am chatting to Sophie of Seasons Green, an online shop selling gifts inspired by the countryside and the coast.
Seasons Green is 7 years old and it all began by accident. Moving to a different part of the country and leaving her old business behind meant that she seized the opportunity to create a new business from her love of the coast and country.
Sophie turned the lock down into an opportunity and her business has grown and developed steadily over the 7 years. Sophie says the business journey has felt comfortable and natural, which has meant it has been very rewarding. We can all learn a lot from her attitude to business growth.
Early on Sophie was given the advice to buy only the things that she thought people would buy. But Sophie chose to ignore this and buy things she loved and would buy herself. This has definitely paid off and given her the uniqueness she was striving for.
This is such an inspiring interview, Sophie has shared so much about her business journey and her product range sounds amazing. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.
Seasons Green are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
LOVE OUR SHOPS UK - JOIN THE DIRECTORY
7: Heather Gorringe of Wiggly Wigglers - 30 Years of Running A Successful Business Selling Things Produced on The Farm
In this episode I am chatting to Heather of Wiggly Wigglers.
Heather began Wiggly Wigglers 30 years ago and it came out of wanting to do something about the problem that was piling up outside her window. Her business journey since has been full of highs and lows, her bucket analogy which she describes during our conversation is just brilliant.
Heather has always embraced social media and is the master of getting great PR. Including an article which featured Prince Charles and is highly amusing. She has such a warm, engaging, interesting and fun personality, her podcast and videos show all this.
Heather says we all need a breakthrough and a little bit of luck in our business and she is right. But she has created such a wonderful business and brand it was inevitable that both of these would come her way.
Heather is a true business woman and says if it hadn’t been Wiggly Wigglers there would have been another business as she just loves everything about business. She tells us about the other businesses she has successfully developed plus she does this whilst supporting her husband Farmer Phil, who runs a very busy farm. There are lots of words of wisdom and nuggets of inspiration in this interview. Plus, it is great to hear all about Wiggly Wigglers and enjoy some of the funny moments in the stories Heather shares.
I am sure you will love this interview and it will definitely make you smile, if not laugh out loud.
Wiggly Wigglers are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
LOVE OUR SHOPS UK - JOIN THE DIRECTORY
6.: Richard Harrop of Home Gifts Garden - Creating a Successful Independent Shop Filled With Unique Artisan Made Products From Indonesia
In this episode I am chatting to Richard of Home Gifts Garden, an online shop selling lots of wonderful artisan made products from Indonesia.
Richard began his first business in Indonesia. He went travelling back in the 1990’s and eventually settled in Indonesia because he loved it there. He met his wife and then began his first but related business. A number of years later, after surviving a couple of natural disasters, he and his wife moved back to the UK and started up Home Gifts Garden. His first business meant he had a knowledge of and links to all the little artisan producers and cottage industries in Indonesia, so he was able to source unique items from these little producers, bring them to the UK and now sells them via his online shop.
Such a brilliant business. Richard sounds like one very busy man and has created something unique using a knowledge built up over years of living in Indonesia. A very interesting conversation, I am sure you will agree.
Home Gifts Garden are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
5: Shelley Nott of SN Cards - How to Create a Successful Business From Your Own Fine Art
In this episode I am chatting to Shelley Nott of SN Cards, a greetings card business. Shelley creates the most stunning still life photographs and creates fine art which she sells at exhibitions. Some of these amazing photographs she also turns into stunning greetings cards which she sells online and also at the exhibitions.
Shelley is so talented and it is inspiring to see someone create a successful business from their passion.
Shelley began her business following a degree she completed when in her fifties back in 2011. So you see, it is never to late to pursue your dream.
Shelley has a real passion for what she does which shows not only in this conversation but in the business she has created and in her stunning art and greetings cards. The dedication and time she puts into creating the perfect photograph really surprised me. An image can be months in planning and days in taking. Her images are stunning so it is absolutely worth it when you look at the finished photograph.
I was fascinated by the influence of the Dutch Masters and how the photographs are taken. Shelley is so very talented. Her photographs have appeared in Vogue Magazine, not just once but 3 months on the trot. Which is absolutely brilliant but I am not surprised as her work is stunning and so worthy of being in Vogue.
This is a really interesting and inspiring conversation, I loved it and I am sure you will too.
SN Cards are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
LOVE OUR SHOPS UK - JOIN THE DIRECTORY
4: Grace Whowell of Beyond Measure - How to Run a Successful Business That Works For Your Life and Values
In this episode I am chatting to Grace of Beyond Measure, a shop full of tools, notions and supplies for people who make things in textiles. Or as Grace puts it, beautiful things for folk who make.
Grace began her business back in 2014. She started it from home and sensibly tested out the idea selling via social media. When she realised others liked her products, she went onto invest time and money in creating the wonderful business that she has now.
You can learn a lot from this conversation. Graces journey is one of organic manageable growth. She sources her own unique range of carefully curated products. She also works in collaboration with makers to create quality products just for Beyond Measure.
I really love Graces business beliefs. She is very clear on what she offers, how she wants people to see her business and how she communicates with her customers. She also takes into account how she wants her life outside of the business to look and feel.
This is a very inspirational conversation. I am sure you will enjoy it and learn lots, I certainly did.
Beyond Measure are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
LOVE OUR SHOPS UK - JOIN THE DIRECTORY
3: Chiara Stone of Hoobynoo - Running a Successful Pet and Personalised Product Business
In this episode I am chatting to Chiara Stone of Hoobynoo, a pet products business. Chiara designs, creates and sells dog tags, dog bowls, dog leads and collars and lots more dog products. Lots are personalised and they also have products for other pets too.
Chiara began her business 10 years ago. She started it from home when her children were very small and has since grown it to the hugely successful business that it is today.
It is a true family business working with her husband and her mother in law, plus roping her children in to help, when the pandemic meant a more manic workload.
You will gain a lot from the Hoobynoo business journey and how Chiara manages it and her time. She has had a complete change of product focus, went from having others make her products to bringing them in house and has a brilliant launching style.
Chiara’s enthusiasm and love for her business shines through. It was an absolute pleasure having this chat with her and I am sure you will enjoy and be inspired by it too.
Hoobynoo are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
2: Neil Coxon of From You to Me, Building a Successful Publishing House and Gift Brand
In this episode I am chatting to the inspiring Neil Coxon of From You To Me, a publishing house creating beautiful and emotive gifts. Their gifts feel good to give and even better to receive.
Neil and his partner Helen, began From You To Me 15 years ago. It has since grown from the initial launch of a couple of products, to one that has hundreds. Starting from the humble beginnings of running it from home to now employing a team of people, located in beautiful offices and selling his products all over the world.
Neil has so much knowledge and wisdom to share and an inspiring story. So I am sure you will find the conversation interesting and helpful, as I certainly did.
From You To Me are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
LOVE OUR SHOPS UK - JOIN THE DIRECTORY
1: Heidi Early of Earlybird Designs - Running a Successful Greetings Card Business
In this first ever episode of The Shop Independent Show, I am talking to Heidi of EarlyBird Designs, a greetings card business based in Stoke Newington, London.
Heidi and her husband Dominic began EarlyBird Designs over 20 years ago. She has lots of wisdom and an inspiring journey to share. Heidi works hard to bring the perfect selection of greetings cards to her many customers in both their shop and online. They also design their own range of cards which are available in their shop and wholesale.
I loved this first shop independent conversation, I am sure you will too.
EarlyBird Designs are one of the brilliant independent shops on my shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find independent shops online.
Trailer for The Shop Independent Show
Welcome to The Shop Independent Show. Every week I will be sharing with you inspiring stories from shop owners, talking tips on running an independent online shop and flying the flag for shop independent.
I am Barbara Steadman, I run online shopping directory Love Our Shops UK, the place to find British independent online shops.
I am excited to share all this shop independent chat with you.