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Independent store shout out - May
May was a busy month for our independent stores. They started the month right before the King's Coronation so all the windows were adorned in street party products and items to commemorate the event. Once the Coronation was over it was all systems go to change over to summer windows and displays, and just in time for the beautiful summer weather to arrive.
During the run up to the Coronation we held a competition for our independent stores whereby the best window or display using the TT Coronation range would receive credit to use with us for their next order, plus two runners up. It was very hard to pick a winner out of twenty-three beautiful displays but Country Kate took the top spot with their truly quintessential display complete with knitted horses pulling our carriage cake stand.
We caught up with Country Kate's Katie Piper:
Congrats on winning our Coronation competition! How did you find the reaction to coronation in store?
CK: We are over the moon to have won the window competitions. Coronation in the shop was lovely we had a really good response with only a hand full of seed flags left and the odd bunting. Our customers were excited for the street party's and family gathering.
What are you most looking forward to as we head into summer?
CK: I'm really looking forward to the Harrogate trade fair, finding new stock for the shop. We love this trade show as we find some real gems there. The summer also brings lots of lovely customers old and new to our lovely shop in Kinver, so it keeps me on toes finding nice new stock.
Have you noticed any trends with customer buying recently?
CK: Now the sun is out all our garden stock is flying out. Also our paper plates, napkins ect from T&T as these are perfect for garden parties 🥳 🎉
How do go about styling your fabulous windows and displays?
CK: Window displays are my passion, I really get to show off my artistic flair I absolutely love doing them. I get ideas from all the beautiful displays at the trade shows, then I normally set a theme for my window and my ideas grow from there. We charge the window every two weeks as its important to keep it looking nice and fresh. My brother is making me a shed fount for my next window display, there is nothing he can't make. One October I asked for a fire place for the Christmas window next thing I knew he had made me one up. My sister always has a crochet hook in had making new bits for my window displays.
Anything new coming up for Country Kate?
CK: We always have lots of surprises up our sleeve at Country Kate watch this space , but for now we are looking forward to spending a nice summer in the village with our lovely customers. It won't be long before we are preparing for our Christmas room to open at the end of September, our customers love this and aging it keeps me on my toes finding lovely new Christmas stock.
As usual we always want to showcase some of the other beautiful displays by our independents this month. Look at these bright summer set ups:
