A creative movement ...........
No21 moved to Shepton Mallet in Somerset UK having been attracted to a wealth of history on its the doorstep. There was so much potential to develop the town, a central location in the Mendip Hills. Brands / shops had moved out to large retail parks and small old fashioned businesses reluctant to change closed their doors with several empty shops remaining
Most would see this as a problem we saw an opportunity to start a business with minimal overheads. We launched No21 in Town Street two years ago with a view to develop an internet business www.no21.co.uk along side our little shop and have recently expanded with a showroom at Kilver Court.
Several businesses have now joined us .....and grants have been available to restore the Georgian and Victorian façades. Our vision is to make Shepton Mallet a shopping destination for Antiques, Vintage, Interiors, Artisan and Art is slowly developing. This provides us with a selling proposition for the town and will in turn attract other types of businesses to the town to offer the all essential 'choice' for customers
Two years later there is a growing portfolio of new a creative shops, not forgetting some of the existing businesses such as Parkway Antiques (30 years ) One Craft Gallery (10 years) and Ostry Picture Framing (20years?) Footfall in the town is not yet high, although new businesses are always a little surprised with their customer ratio.
The BBC1 series Turn Back Time 'The High Street' helped put the town on the map and encouraged Woo Hoo Vintage to continue the name and take the shop from the 1970s series. You may also notice Nostalgia at No1 featured in the background of most of the Market Place shots. Niki comes from Bath and had taken a shop prior to the filming.
The BBC1 series Turn Back Time 'The High Street' helped put the town on the map and encouraged Woo Hoo Vintage to continue the name and take the shop from the 1970s series. You may also notice Nostalgia at No1 featured in the background of most of the Market Place shots. Niki comes from Bath and had taken a shop prior to the filming.
It is a long high street and the creative movement is not instantly noticeable. We have created a map to show the like minded shops in the centre of town. ( A cafe and restaurant map will be produced at a later date. )
If anyone would like to join our spirit and determination to give customers something different from the retail giants ... unique, handmade, re-invented, beautifully crafted, quality pieces...the rent is still low here, contact info@no21.co.uk for information.
If you are an independent retailer we recommend you have an internet business, offer a unique service, become a cooperative..... and have an advertising budget (blogs are free) to really survive today's changing climate.
Visit www.sheptonmallet.co for information (currently being updated)
No21x
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Mademoiselle Poirot said...
It's about time all those chain stores get kicked out of the town centres. Every high street looks the same here, it's quite sad and ugly. Wasn't Shepton Mallet featured in the BBC series The Highstreet? Might be wrong though... I will have to make time and visit, it looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing this. Love from London xo
Nostalgia at the Stone House said...
Anna at the Doll House said...
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COMMENTS (we welcome your comments - please click on comments at the bottom of the page)
It's about time all those chain stores get kicked out of the town centres. Every high street looks the same here, it's quite sad and ugly. Wasn't Shepton Mallet featured in the BBC series The Highstreet? Might be wrong though... I will have to make time and visit, it looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing this. Love from London xo
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Hi B,
As you know, around a year and a half ago now, I came into your shop for the first time and talked to you about the possibility of me opening my small business somewhere in Shepton Mallet. At the time I was struck by your passion for the town and also your vision of how it could be. Not to mention the fact that you had created a wonderful shop from a previously sad building and so it was easy to see how things could change on the high street for the better. Having now set up my own shop (and been trading now for nearly 18 months)and after many conversations with you during that time(!) - you know I am in full agreement with you and share your passion for a healthy future for Shepton. The artisan/interiors/antiques themed shops give a focus within the town and will be a great marketing tool to attract visitors.
If I could just add, that if new independent traders were worried by the fairly low footfall as yet, I am happy to say that those potential customers that are on the high street are genuinely looking to spend with the independent traders. (I have been made to feel very welcome.) The 'Somerset Antiques & Interiors' centre opened approx two weeks ago and in that time I have noticed sales of furniture within my own small shop have at least doubled! Having several creative shops, offering a choice to visitors, means we can all benefit and help each other to grow. Maybe its coincidence, but I am willing to bet that things really are changing within the town and it will very soon be up and running as a creative destination and one to properly put Shepton Mallet on the map amongst its neighbouring towns.
Hope that's not too long a comment, but I just wanted to reassure people that we are not all in competition with one another, but the camaraderie and support we can offer one another is something to value and use to push the towns profile forward.
Thanks for all that you do, B! Its great to see the map filling up!
This certainly looks to be a good place to go shopping and antiquing when we next come over to Britain.
I am now your newest follower and look forward to receiving your future posts.
Anna
Anna
Hi B,
ReplyDeleteAs you know, around a year and a half ago now, I came into your shop for the first time and talked to you about the possibility of me opening my small business somewhere in Shepton Mallet. At the time I was struck by your passion for the town and also your vision of how it could be. Not to mention the fact that you had created a wonderful shop from a previously sad building and so it was easy to see how things could change on the high street for the better. Having now set up my own shop (and been trading now for nearly 18 months)and after many conversations with you during that time(!) - you know I am in full agreement with you and share your passion for a healthy future for Shepton. The artisan/interiors/antiques themed shops give a focus within the town and will be a great marketing tool to attract visitors.
If I could just add, that if new independent traders were worried by the fairly low footfall as yet, I am happy to say that those potential customers that are on the high street are genuinely looking to spend with the independent traders. (I have been made to feel very welcome.) The 'Somerset Antiques & Interiors' centre opened approx two weeks ago and in that time I have noticed sales of furniture within my own small shop have at least doubled! Having several creative shops, offering a choice to visitors, means we can all benefit and help each other to grow. Maybe its coincidence, but I am willing to bet that things really are changing within the town and it will very soon be up and running as a creative destination and one to properly put Shepton Mallet on the map amongst its neighbouring towns.
Hope that's not too long a comment, but I just wanted to reassure people that we are not all in competition with one another, but the camaraderie and support we can offer one another is something to value and use to push the towns profile forward.
Thanks for all that you do, B! Its great to see the map filling up!
Niki x