The Future of Independents I am the designer and manager of Priormade, a contemporary homewares brand that only uses sustainable materials. I have been designing and making my products for 10 years, so when the opportunity last year (April 2019) came along to open my own retail shop I thought it would be an absolute breeze. ‘I mean, what’s the difference between selling my work at a market to selling a collection of different artists work in a building?’ I chimed. Well, it turns out quite a lot. As Priormade, I have over 30 brilliant stockists nationwide but it wasn’t until I opened Prior Shop that my appreciation of the hard work, passion and determination these businesses have, really came to light. I have to be honest, before opening my own shop I couldn’t help but think my stockists were a bit greedy and wondered what they actually did to warrant taking a proportion of the sale of the things I made. I can’t tell you how guilty and stupid I feel about that now!
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When a retail unit became available; a place where I could sell my sustainable homewares, it also had enough space to relocate my wood workshop onsite. What an opportunity! I’d met so many wonderful responsible product designers over the last 10 years that to me, opening a shop that showcased a collection of homewares and accessories that are made with such care and intent, was a no brainer. My plan; to carefully curate a space full of exceptional craftsmanship, selling sustainable products that I can confidently vouch for. I ask each artist/designer to fill out a form for transparency that they have been as responsible as they can from idea to product production. It has questions about the material, packaging, suppliers and making processes, and also to understand their business ethos. When you have a shop full of so many beautiful things, you feel so responsible. Perhaps that is also because I’m a maker and I know how deeply precious all of these pieces are that are now in my care. I am so invested in each product as if it was my own hands that made it.
