Celebrating Independents: Bristol Bound

As part of our monthly regional visits, I headed to Bristol in June to connect with a selection of our independent and hero stores. It is such a valuable opportunity to build stronger relationships with store owners, managers, and buyers, while also capturing visual merchandising inspiration and gathering first-hand feedback directly from the shop floor. And I was not disappointed. Bristol is a city overflowing with creativity, independent spirit, and retail charm.

My first visit was to Reason Interiors, a beautifully curated shop filled with such high quality offerings. The team there had already placed their Christmas order and were genuinely excited about our new seasonal designs. It was lovely to hear how much they enjoy working with our collections.

Just a short walk away, Iota welcomed me with more great energy and some fantastic product insights. Several Talking Tables products are really resonating with their customers:

• Escape Room Games are a seasonal bestseller — perfect for the Christmas build-up.
• The Bon collection is doing well, especially with retailers like Iota who appreciate its appeal outside the festive window.
• Trays continue to delight customers, blending function with fun.
• And the new checked enamel candle holders have been a standout — stylish, colourful, and ideal for gifting.

Rounding off the day, I visited The Pod Shop, nestled among a cluster of mostly clothing stores. It was brilliant to see our Birthday products proudly positioned at the till. These lines are clearly performing, and the team has even placed a few summer top-up orders recently — which is always so positive to hear.

With its location in a fashion-forward area, The Pod Shop stands out by offering great gift and homeware options — something their customers clearly value.

Every visit on this trip reinforced what makes Bristol’s independent retail scene so special: passion, creativity, and community. Our products are finding their place not just on shelves, but in stories — part of birthday gifting moments, festive family traditions, and daily inspiration.

See how other retailers are bringing our products to life in store here.

Interested in becoming one of our trade customers? Find out more here

Blog and photography by Grace Ludlam, Marketing and Community Coordinator