Sarah Frances products are stocked in some truly amazing independent shops around the UK and I wanted to highlight one every month by interviewing the owners about their store and the surrounding area!
For this month's meet the stockist we're saying hello to the lovely Kate who runs Happy & Glorious, located in the historic town of Canterbury!
Tell me a little about yourself and how your store came to be?
I've been in independent retail since I was 17, making it over 30 years behind the till! I knew almost immediately that I wanted my own shop, but waited until I was 34 to set up first online, then on to gift fairs and pop-up shops, and finally to my own bricks and mortar shop in 2015. I wanted to sell beautiful, British made gifts and homeware, to showcase the talented designer-makers that we have in the UK, and in my own small way, to help reinvigorate both the British manufacturing industry, and the high street.
What do you look for when searching for products to stock?
My brief for buying has always been; 'what would I fill my home with, if money were no object?' I select beautiful pieces that are made to last. I choose gorgeously fragranced candles, soaps and diffusers, pretty stationery, delicate silver jewellery, snuggly throws and beautiful ceramics. I love the natural world, so birds, woodland creatures and plant life feature heavily across the store, along with colour, happiness and a gentle touch of silliness and whimsy too.
What’s the best thing about having an independent shop in Canterbury?
Canterbury is a fabulous city, with a rich history, vibrant nightlife and lots of great events. The city has a BID (Business Improvement District) - a fantastic team that organise hanging baskets in summer, Christmas lights in winter, treasure trails, a Medieval Pageant, Halloween events, a street cleaning and security team and so much more. I feel so lucky on my 20 minute 'commute' to the shop, walking along the ancient city wall or through the beautifully maintained gardens, and often give a little pat of gratitude to the trees and monuments along the way! My shop is just a few doors down from the cathedral, meaning that my footfall in summer is terrific, so I am very lucky to be here.
Do you have any future plans for the Happy & Glorious?
My current plans are to continue to grow the business! Through a great deal of hard work and some brilliant business coaching, I am up on last year by around 18%, and I fully appreciate that this is not the case for many high street businesses right now. I want to develop the website further, and grow our side business of dried flower weddings, and maybe once in a while, have a day off!
If someone was to visit Canterbury, could you recommend some favourite indie places to check out?
There are so many fabulous places to visit! Fitzgerald Jeweller's is a favourite for beautiful sparkles; they design and make in-house and you can see the workshop where the magic happens. I pop to Wrapped! when I need funny birthday cards, and Canterbury Pottery for handmade ceramics. My friends at Stag Coffee serve great tea, coffee, food and cocktails, plus The Long Rest is brillant for an evening playing board games with friends.
Thanks so much for chatting with me Kate!
You can find a good range of Sarah Frances products including enamel pins, washi tape and stickers at Happy & Glorious, 47a Burgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2HW.
Follow on social media: Happy & Glorious on Instagram. (Photos used with permission).