To celebrate the beautiful coastal community I live in and to cheer everybody up with this awful weather and strees many people are suffering, I have decided to have a giveaway.
I am really excited to offer this wonderful piece of original artwork by the very talented Linda Bartlett who sells a selection of her coastal themed work in my shop. Linda is inspired by the beautiful seaside towns and villages of Devon and Cornwall. Each painting is unique with its own individual design, colours and features.
The piece measures 12 inches (31 cms) by 16 inches (41cms) and is painted in oils (I think)
Worth £100 it can be yours !
All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is one of the below.
Leave a comment below
Follow this blog
Like the white approach living the vintage life facebook page
Follow the white approach on twitter
Giveaway closes on Tuesday 25th February at 4pm. Open only to entrants from mainland UK only (sorry).
Winner will be picked by a random automated selector.
Good luck and Thank you.
Karen
The winner of the artwork giveaway drawn from all entrants on the blog, facebook and twitter is Kerrie Louise Preston.
Congratulations Kerrie, its a wonderful piece. Please contact me with your address details .
This giveaway is now CLOSED
Thank you to all who took part.
Karen xx
The Spring Fair - NEC Birmingham
3 Feb 2014
You might
want to make use of the large selection of free guides on offer. But
beware, carting round all the literature you can't resist picking up
throughout the course of the day, becomes a job better suited to a weigh
lifter ! Those more experienced at these events can be seen smugly
pulling bags on wheels !
Arriving at 9am on a Sunday morning was definitely a good idea, but I will say even when we left footsore and exhausted at 4pm it wasn't a huge crush of people. The aisles are wide and the whole event feels spacious and well thought out. Plenty of toilet facilities and a huge choice of food and outlets. You actually don't even need to spend any money on food if you play it clever, many of the exhibitors have free food, sweets and snacks on offer and you can even pick up vouchers for free coffee ! Well who doesn't love a bit of free (especially poor independent retailers like myself).
I had been told that it was a vast event but the sheer amount of beautiful wares on offer had me gasping like a child in a sweet shop! There were 20 halls from kitchen and homewares to toys and Christmas to art and framing, body and bath, outdoor living, gift and volume it went on and on and on. I was told over 17 miles of exhibitors! I must admit the Christmas section was lovely but in February my heart wasn't quiet ready to start looking at all that sparkle again.
I was hoping to see lots of new trends and ideas to take back to give me food for though for my own shop but sadly I didn't see anything new or inspirational in the nautical, French/Rustic home styles on offer at the show. I did love the display the Spanish company above had but they seriously let themselves down with the member of staff I spoke to who had absolutely no idea about the stock or the price points of the items.
This company interpreted the French rustic look beautifully and their display had many reproductions of the (authentic) items I sell in my shop. I was interested to see the much sought after French bottle drying rack making an appearance. This item is destined to be copied and appearing on the mass produced high street soon I am sure. I did love the spiral egg rack too.
They also had this great table, very similar to the wood and slate table I have in the shop. I think we will see more and more of these multifunctional tables appearing on the high street and slate was everywhere.
Although I met lots of British companies who make and sell only British made products, I was disappointed that the exhibition didn't make more of the "Made in Britain" companies. I would have expected to see a showcase of these companies as the show was open to many international visitors. There were a good number of British companies exhibiting, but they were dotted around the vast halls. I actively sought them out as I try really hard to sell only made by and in Britain products and particularly support small independent businesses. I really liked buttonbag especially as they just published this great book of crafts just for boys !
Other beautiful independent British companies many of them located in the Summerhouse I will certainly be following up on included :
CRUMBLE COTTAGE
URBAN APOTHECARY
DUCKY DORA
SHOELESS JOE
STONE THE CROWS
MENS SOCIETY
PLAIN SLATE
OHH DEER.COM
CLOCKWORK SOLDIER
BRONTE BY MOON
I am so glad I made the effort to attend this event and although I didn't really see too much I would consider innovative and was saddened to see so many people buying the mass produced cheap stock like lemmings. I did meet lots of small independent retailers exhibiting who felt it was a good platform for their products and most of whom were feeling positive and optimistic about being there.
oh and one last thing, forget about OWLS !
PENGUINS are the next big thing !
Labels:
Birmingham,
homewares,
NEC,
small business,
spring fair,
trade
Unique Stock instore
29 Jan 2014
One of the best parts of owning my own little business is the shopping for stock ! I am asked on a regular basis where I buy from and of course I couldn't possibly tell ! But it is a selection of new and immaculate quality used items. When I source new stock I will always sell it for below the RRP as I firmly believe in showing people you can have a beautiful home on a budget.
I found these gorgeous pieces this weekend and feel for sure they will not hang around for long.
The bowls are £6 each (RRP £11) the side plates are £6.50 each (RRP £13.50) and the dinner plates are £8 each (RRP £16.50).
I found these gorgeous pieces this weekend and feel for sure they will not hang around for long.
Hand crafted in Portugal. I have two sets of bowls, side plate and dinner plates. All beautifully decorated in turquoise and cream, made from ironstone with a high shine glaze they are truly beautiful.
The bowls are £6 each (RRP £11) the side plates are £6.50 each (RRP £13.50) and the dinner plates are £8 each (RRP £16.50).
Sails and Canvas join the white approach
21 Jan 2014
I'm absolutely thrilled to announce I have taken the plunge and introduced another great local business to the white approach shop. The innovative Sails and Canvas based in Topsham, Devon make an array of must have products from used Sails and Canvas (of course).
Choose from cushions, bags, bolsters, bean bags and the most amazing dog beds. All of which can be customised !
I will have a selection of products in the shop from tomorrow to give you a taster of what is available, but feel for sure this is going to be a huge success in the seaside town of Exmouth where my shop is located. Don't worry if you live further afield, products will very shortly be added to the website.
I predict the shoppers will be a huge success. Large and roomy with rope straps long enough to carry over your shoulder. With a clear section on one side these are going to be perfect for the beach.
The nautical style is classic and timeless so investing in one of these you are guaranteed to always look stylish.
All items are hand made in the Loft in Topsham. Customisation available at no extra charge.
Come and see us soon.
Exciting times.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
3 Jan 2014
Well, the first six months in my shop have flown past. It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, doubts and highs and I am learning everyday. I plan to write regular posts this year on what is is to set up and run a small bricks and mortar business in an age of recession and internet shopping.
I am running a sale in my shop at the moment which, is frankly driving me insane as it looks cluttered and jumbled and totally out of line with the look I am trying to achieve, but, I am distracting myself with the plans and sourcing of stock for the Spring look which will consist of the ever popular :
Nautical style. Living by the seaside and having my shop in a coastal holiday destination I have many customers interested in nautical products.
White, White and more White . I love white, no matter how I try to diversify I always come back to this wonderful , calm colour and I will be sticking very firmly to my guns with my furniture this year. More and more people are (finally) coming around to what I have been preaching for most of my adult life that white is THE only colour to use in your home for many reasons.
French influence. Again another style I adore, although in recent years it has become harder and harder to buy authentic French homewares at reasonable prices. I hope to accent the shop with French inspired items and where I can find them for a good price, authentic pieces. There are hopes that we might even fit in a trip to France !
In the meantime please pop over to my facebook page to see the daily updates or take a peak at my Pinterest page for work I have carried out for customers, images that inspire me and what I think the trends in homes will be.
Happy New Year and may 2014 bring you all that you wish for.
Karen xx
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