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CARDIFFWORKS News, views and inspiring interviews with the region’s professionals
It’s the city’s business
CARDIFFWORKS
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Anna Knight, founder and director of Nest Vintage Living is celebrating a decade in business
Ten out of ten
This month, Nest Vintage Living will celebrate 10 years in business. They’ve been in the village of Rhiwbina the entire time and, in many ways, have become the heart of the community; Anna Knight, the founder and director tells us more…
How has the business grown over 10 years? “I had spent lots of time getting to know the Rhiwbina community and one day saw an empty window in the Garden Village calling out for a boutique gift shop. Plans for the shop rocketed ahead with us fi rst opening the Nest doors to customers just before Christmas in 2010. Four years later Nest had outgrown its original, smaller premises and then fate intervened and presented a site just opposite the existing one in 2014. Six years on and the business continues to thrive, even amidst the pandemic.”
In what way have you seen the Rhiwbina community pull together this year? “The community has always been fundamental to Nest’s success and has supported us from the very beginning. When lockdown was fi rst announced in March, we were overwhelmed by the number of our customers that were so keen to buy gift vouchers ready to support us with reopening. We’ve seen people travel more from across Cardiff to come and visit us and that too is hugely appreciated.” For more: www.nestcardiff .co.uk
WELCOME TO THESE NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED IN AND AROUND THE CITY…
GROUNDS FOR GOOD What is it: A social enterprise which collects used coffee grounds from local cafés and repurposes them into beauty and lifestyle products Where is it: It operates from the owners’ homes in Penarth and Pontcanna respectively Tell us more: “Myself and my friend Amy Adams teamed up to launch it,” says Rosie Oretti. “The profi ts will be going to The Wallich, in our efforts to help stop homelessness in Wales. GFG is good for us, good for the community, and good for the planet too.” Opening date: October www.groundsforgood.co.uk
The daily grind: Rosie Oretti and Amy Adams have set up Grounds for Good
NAPOLEON FLOORS
What is it: A fl ooring store
Where is it: Penarth Road
Tell us more: “We have an extensive, bespoke range of fl oor coverings,” says Nathan Poleon, director. “There are engineered woods, luxury vinyl and laminate fl ooring as well as wall panels, carpets, tiles, astro turf, and fl ooring for hospitals, schools, and wet areas.”
Opening date: Early October www.napoleonfl oors.com
And stretch: Plas
Pilates has opened in Morgan Arcade PLAS PILATES What is it: A Pilates studio and lifestyle shop Where is it: Morgan Arcade Tell us more: “It’s the fi rst Pilates studio and lifestyle shop in the city centre,” says owner Sasha Caddell. “Our teaching team has recently expanded from London, where we have been based for over 15 years, to open our new state-of-the-art studio in Cardiff.” Opening date: Mid October www.plaspilates.com CREATE SALON What is it: A hairdressing salon Where is it: Pontcanna Tell us more: “We offer high-quality hair cutting and colour services,” say Kasey Perks and Dani Vinson, the dream duo. “We are both Vidal Sassoon-trained with 12 years’ experience each. We’re a sustainable salon too, using only vegan-friendly products and biodegradable or recyclable materials. We also have a beautiful bee-friendly garden.” Opening date: Early November @createsalon_
ANYTIME FITNESS PENARTH What is it: A 24-hour gym Where is it: Windsor Road, Penarth Tell us more: “The building stood empty for several years before being turned into luxury apartments, with Anytime Fitness taking over the whole of the ground fl oor,” says Anytime’s Weronica Ling. “We have chosen to open in Penarth due to the community feel in the area. This fi ts in with what we will recreate in our gym.” Opening Date: Early November www.anytimefi tness.co.uk
Hand-poked tattoos are Zak Thomas’s speciality STILL HANDS What is it: A tattoo parlour Where is it: Castle Emporium, Womanby Street Tell us more: “I specialise in handpoked tattooing,” says owner Zak Thomas. “And I only tattoo my own designs, which are inspired by nature illustration and western and eastern traditional tattooing.” Opening date: August
www.thecastleemporium.co.uk
MANIFOLD ARTS What is it: A non-profi t arts charity Where is it: It operates out of a converted shipping container on the Meanwhile Creative lot on Curran Embankment Tell us more: “We provide free and affordable services including studio space, material supplies, critical feedback sessions, workshops, and online exhibit space,” says Victoria Silezin, who founded Manifold alongside Kirk Lewis and Emily Gee Williams. “We aim to make the Cardiff arts community accessible to people from all walks of life, particularly those with disabilities, those from working-class backgrounds, and members of the BAME community – groups currently underrepresented in this industry.” Opening date: Early November www.manifoldartscom.wordpress.com
Amaryllis salon is on a sustainable mission
BITESIZE BITS Amaryllis salon, on Cowbridge Road East, is spearheading calls to make the beauty industry in South Wales more sustainable. The salon signed up to the national Unblocktober campaign to reduce the amount of waste going into our oceans, and the owners say that local salons should commit to easy actions to make their businesses more environmentally friendly, too. www.amaryllis-salon.co.uk Traveline Cymru MD, Jo Foxall, from Cowbridge, has been crowned the Women in Transport award winner at the 2020 Wales Transport Awards. She’s been recognised for her tireless dedication to the organisation over the last 16 years. www.traveline.cymru Cardiff residents are being called on to join the One Planet challenge, a plan by Cardiff Council designed to drive the city towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Businesses and residents are asked to join forces with the council to make the lifestyle changes required if Wales’ capital is to become a truly green city over the next decade. www.oneplanetcardiff.co.uk
Traveline Cymru’s Jo Foxall is a winner
B USINESS CLUB
MARIE PALBOM PHOTOGRAPHY ©
WATCH THIS SPACE
A recent local success story comes from Buddug, a one-of-akind gift shop selling handmade creations, which tripled its sales during lockdown.
Its owner, Buddug Wyn Humphreys, says demand became so high that it led to her moving her studio shop’s location from Castle Arcade to open studios just off Whitchurch Road, so as to allow her to create her quirky, unusual pieces closer to home.
“It was easier to a have studio near me,” says Buddug, who’s collaborated with the likes of Anthropologie, Urban Outfi tters and Designers Guild, and has appeared in magazines such as Red, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Homes. “I wanted to be able to juggle work and family life more easily. I handmake all my pieces, this is part of the business I love; I always want to be slightly diff erent.
“I loved my old studio in Castle Arcade, especially the walls and light,” adds Buddug, who is best known for her layered enamelling technique. “I will miss it.” For more: www.buddug.com
Demand for Buddug’s one-of-a-kind gifts has blossomed like never before
Cardiff & Vale Tutors work closely with local schools, arranging online tuition as well as in-school intervention
WIN-WIN
Congratulations to Cardiff & Vale Tutors, who won the 2020 Corportate LiveWire Award for the category: best in private tutoring services UK. Their online software showed innovation and excellence as it was developed with an invisible mode, meaning lessons are fully monitored to ensure the highest safeguarding standards are put in place with remote learning. For more: www.cardiff valetutors.co.uk
Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend
Search Cardiff Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration
If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk
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LOCKDOWN LOVELIES Introducing 10 Cardiff-based independent businesses that were set up at home during or post lockdown. Find them on Instagram:
1 @cl.illustrates – Bespoke illustrations, by Charlotte Lloyd, to depict you and your favourite people.
2 @fl oris.uk – Aoife Doherty’s sustainable company creates pretty notebooks, which, FYI, are sold at Ripple Living, Albany Road.
3 @knots.of.love.x – Stand-out handmade macrame designs by Sarah Howey.
4 @rose_mor_ – Founded by Rosie Blatchford, the business specialises in handmade home décor, designed with eco-friendly materials.
5 @emma.handmades – Emma Key’s custom jewellery has been featured in British Vogue.
6 @abaloneandsage – Sinead Marie Attwell off ers original treasures and artwork designed to empower mind, body and soul.
7 @ty.deco – A curated collection of houseplants and homeware by Dan Wilson and Kiran Bejawn.
8 @iconospheric – Iconic images crafted into wall art, apparel and merchandise. Founded by David Hulston.
9 @knotsandcotton_ – Knots & Cotton is the invention of crafting and crochet queen Alex Fitzpatrick.
10 @katieharris.illustration – Katie Harris, who hand-draws beautiful designs for prints and cards, has recently launched her Etsy store.
Mandy and Kelly’s products are approved for both human and animal use
CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS 2020
THE GOODWASH COMPANY Former international athletes and co-founders of The Good Wash Company, Mandy Powell and Kelly Davies, on winning two categories at the Cardiff Life Awards virtual ceremony this year
WELSH LANGUAGE AND PLATINUM WINNER
You won the Welsh Language and Platinum Award categories at the Cardiff Life Awards. Congratulations! How did it feel? It’s obviously such an unprecedented time for awards ceremonies but nothing takes away from the excitement and anticipation. It was so great to log on with our board members and supporters to eagerly await the results. There were lots of loud cheers across Zoom and we cracked open our ‘emergency’ bottle of fizz. Everyone should have an emergency bottle of fizz in the house, right?
How did you celebrate? We raised a glass to our journey with our friends and supporters via Zoom and were so overwhelmed with the lovely messages we got from far and wide via our social media. Our award now has pride of place in our flagship store at Goodsheds, Barri.
What prompted you to enter the awards in the first place? Cardiff Life has always worked hard to pick out the best of the best. We’re in such excellent company across all categories of the awards and we wanted to be part of the celebration of South Wales greats!
Tell us a little about the company... The Good Wash Company is a luxury wash and lifestyle brand, created in Wales. Our mission is to change the world one wash at a time using products that are sourced with the finest ingredients from the land and sea.
We’re grateful for every single sale we make as it’s a means for us to get out into the community, fund life-changing activities for both people and animals and uphold our commitment to do good.
How are your products different from the norm? We are really proud that our products are 100 per cent natural, vegan certified, approved for both human and animal use (the first in the UK market) and created in Wales. We also place social impact at the heart of everything we do, so our products not only make you feel good, but they do good too.
What’s another stand-out part about your business? We supply some of South Wales’ most established businesses with our hand soaps and have a huge following of loyal customers including celebrity chefs such as Gareth Ward, James Sommerin, Tom Simmons, and Sam & Shauna. But some of our biggest fans live all the way in Abu Dhabi and the US.
What were you doing before you started this business? Something entirely different! Mandy was working in sales and marketing for a large pharmaceutical company, and Kelly was running a sport-related social enterprise called Viability. And both of us are former international athletes too.
What was your inspiration? From the very beginning as co-founders we’ve had a shared ethos of just wanting to do good. We toyed with some initial ideas for the social enterprise that included clothing, chocolate and beer but quickly realised that was already being done. We thought harder about what folks do every day and what would inspire repeat purchases… then the light bulb moment came.
What are the highs and the lows you’ve experienced during your time with the business? Alton Towers’ rollercoasters haven’t got anything on owning your own business. It’s so important to accept from day one that it’s going to be such a ride. A ride full of twists and turns. Nothing surprises us anymore. Similarly, we’ve learnt to (reluctantly!) accept a lot of things don’t happen as quickly as you might have first hoped.
For more: www.goodwash.co.uk
Meet the property expert
Mick Fallon from HOWELLS SOLICITORS tells us more about the property market, and why it's booming
It's a strange, uncertain time right now, granted, and it's affecting all sectors, but the property market is seeing the positives. The time people have spent at home, locked down, may have contributed to a change in perspective and led to us wanting a change. Mick tells us more...
Who are Howells Solicitors? Howells Solicitors are an established law firm spread across a total of six offices. The firm provides legal advice to clients all across Wales and England with our conveyancing department being one of the busiest. What is the state of the current property market? Business is booming! How has the pandemic changed perspectives, when purchasing a property? More people are working from home so they do not need to factor in the commute to work and as a result clients are now looking at locations where they can get more bang for their buck.
Can you tell us how could Coronavirus affect a house sale or purchase? We need to follow government guidance when it comes to moving home and we keep the client updated of this at all times. The transaction can take longer but we work closely with the estate agents and solicitors to ensure we get everyone
moved safely. What is the biggest positive that is coming out of the property sector right now? We can meet clients via Zoom calls which makes life easier for them as it is not as disruptive to their busy day. n
Mick Fallon, Director/Solicitor, Howells Solicitors, Fitzalan House, Fitzalan Court, Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0EL; 0808 178 2773; www.howellslegal.co.uk
The Mews, Heol Y Delyn - Lisvane
The exclusive development of three unique homes in one of Cardiff’s fi nest suburbs are now ready for viewing with HENTONS ESTATE AGENTS
The development is located 100m away from the local primary school and a short walk away from the other local amenities including the Black Griffi n Pub and local convenience store.
At over 13 meters deep, these 1,650ft2 homes are deceptively large and boast four double bedrooms and three bathrooms. On the ground floor there is a formal front living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens. To the rear of the property is a modern open-plan kitchen, dining and entertainment space featuring a vaulted ceiling with an abundance of natural daylight› pouring through Velux windows and large sliding doors which open onto the private garden area.
The fully fitted kitchen provides a modern twist on traditional design, with a dove grey handless Shaker kitchen, Marble Quarts worktops and high-end integral appliances from the likes of Bosch, and every detail has been considered to reinforce the quality of the homes.
Each of the three bathrooms again provide a contemporary twist on traditional design with metro brick tiles complementing large walk-in showers, towel radiators and sleek vanity units.
The homes are near complete and will be ready for occupation before Christmas. ■ Hentons Estate Agents, 382 – 384 Cyncoed Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff CF23 6SA; 029 20 750360 www.hentons.co.uk
