While Sarah Frances has been a mostly online venture, you can find my products all over the UK in beautifully created boutiques and shops so I thought it would be great to highlight some of these amazing independent stores each month
For our first meet the stockist we're saying hello to the beautiful Elm Hill Craft Shop in Norwich! Elm Hill is full of history and buildings that are an illustrators dream. I lived in Norfolk for many years and this is perhaps my favourite area of Norwich and I definitely miss wandering the streets here!
So here's our interview with the lovely owner Lucy!
Tell me a little about yourself and how your store came to be?
My name is Lucy Morris. I write and illustrate childrens picture books and I also am the owner of the Elm Hill Craft Shop. The shop has been trading since 1936 and I took over from my Mum three years ago after she had it for 42 years. She still works in the shop one day a week.
What do you look for when searching for products to stock?
I am very fussy about my product choices and I have to love everything that I sell. I am continuously on the hunt for unusual and beautiful items that can't be found easily on the High Street. This means I often source products from abroad but also look for small independent companies who are specialists in their field. I am also hugely nostalgic so often try and find things that I remember from my own childhood.
What’s the best thing about having an independent shop in Norwich?
I love the freedom of running my own shop. I can pick and choose how my day unfolds and also love spending time chatting to my customers. We are quite a slow shopping experience in the sense that we take time to chat and wrap products carefully rather than rushing people out of the door.
Do you have any future plans for the Elm Hill Craft Shop?
The next plan for the shop is to open the upstairs so we will have twice and much room for lovely products.
If someone was to visit Norwich, could you recommend some favourite indie places to check out?
There are lots of wonderful indpendent shops in Norwich. My favourites are:
Atwin for clothes, jewellery and accessories.
Breadsource for excellent cakes and bread.
Jarrolds which is an independent Norwich based department store. (Oh how I miss Jarrolds - Sarah)
L'Hexagone for delicious French food.
Norwich Art Supplies for everything arty you could possibly need.
Shopkeeper for excellent menswear and interesting gifts.
Tickety Boo for childrens toys - we do some but they do lots more.
The Bookhive for all your book needs. A wonderful independent.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg. There are lots more to discover and too many to mention.
Thanks so much Lucy!
You can find a good range of my washi tapes at Elm Hill Craft Shop, 12 Elm Hill, Norwich, NR3 1HN.
Follow on social media: Elm Hill Craft Shop on Instagram. (Photos used with permission).
Also check out my illustrated map of Norwich featuring some of favourite places and best tourist hotspots!
