Next in our retail spotlight series, we caught up with Therese. One of the co-founders of the wonderful gift and homeware store (and online store) England at Home.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Therese?
I am from Australia and have a background in Retail/ Buying. My husband and cofounder of England at Home, Bob, hails from The Lake District and has a background in business. We met in Sydney and after a few years of travel and working for other people we decided to settle in the UK.
Tell us about England At Home?
Based in the heart of Brighton our store is a bright and colourful collection of the latest in contemporary homeware and gifts. We can also be found online at englandathome.com
What inspired the beginning of England At Home?
We fancied the idea of working for ourselves and combined our backgrounds to become retailers. My love for interiors and design and Bobs' knack for business has made for a good base to establish and nurture the growth of England At Home. Our love of travel and other cultures inspired our choice to be eclectic in style.
What kind of products do you sell, and how would you describe the style of the store?
England At Home is a visual feast of gorgeous, witty and quirky home accessories, lighting, kitchenware, art, gifts and books.
What’s your favourite Newgate product?
My personal fave is the Quad wall clock in stainless steel. It is bold, handsome and vintage in style. Love it.
Who or what are you influenced by?
Everything influences me. From how dinner parties are styled, people watching, hotels, restaurants, cafes, movie sets, graphics, instagram, Art galleries, books, nature, the urban landscape. Anything visual resonates with me.
What’s been your biggest challenge since Covid-19, how did you overcome this?
Getting a steady flow of stock has been a big issue since Covid. The past year has highlighted how important it is to have strong relationships with our suppliers and customers. It has been very rewarding to be able to supply a happy customer with a product that was a challenge to get.
What advice would you give to anyone starting a new venture?
Keep your nerve! Make your business stand out from the crowd and enjoy nurturing your customer base.
