Today I'm pleased to show you around another international shop specializing in handmade cuteness, Of Cabbages & Kings! Owner, Jessica, just opened in London a few months ago and is already finding a great response from her community. Let's take a little virtual look around, shall we? (click "continue reading" at the end for the full tour!)
What is the name of your shop and where is it located? How long have you been in business?
The name Of Cabbages & Kings
is taken from Lewis Carol’s Poem ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ and is
intended to reflect the eccentric array of weird and wonderful things
the shop sells. The shop is tucked away on Kersley Road, a side street
from Church Street, the main shopping thoroughfare in Stoke Newington,
London. We’ve only been open since May, so it’s still early days, but
the shop’s receiving such a good response from local people; they seem
really excited by it.
What sorts of items do you sell? Who are some of the designers you carry?
Of Cabbages & Kings sells
all sorts of handmade and designer gifts and accessories including
ceramics by Hanne Rysgaard, handmade bags by Emma Gordon, jewellery and
frippery by Hoolala, tea sets by Lillibule and vintage charm jewellery
by Eclectic Eccentricity. The premises has been derelict for many
years, but a few people have informed me that it was once a tuck shop,
so I have a selecion of traditional sweets, sherbet lemons and cola
cubes etc, in respect of this.
At the moment, the shop is very pretty and colourful, kitted out with brightly painted original 1950s kitchen furniture. Its extremely summery, so I think when it gets to autumn, we’ll have to give it a makeover. I like the idea of the shop changing as the season’s change.
What price range do you carry?
Prices range from 10p - £345 (I’m not sure what that converts to in dollars!), but most items are under £30, so hopefully you should always be able to find something for a friend or treat yourself without feeling too guilty.
What do you think makes your shop stand out from the crowd and keep people coming back?
There’s nothing like Of Cabbages & Kings in the area. There are lots of really interesting, independent shops selling vintage clothes, second hand books and kids stuff, but no-one selling handmade things. Also, because the shop is so small you engage with every customer as soon as they walk through the door, which makes it a very personable shopping experience.
Do you operate on wholesale or consignment? Do you accept submissions of handmade items from designers? If so, what's the best way for them to approach you?
Our products are almost entirely consignment, and yes, we are only too happy to receive submissions from designers. It’s usually best to email with images or a website link.
What is the best thing about owning your own shop? And the worst?
For me there are two best things about owning your own shop. The first is being able to make all the decisions, and the second is meeting and working with so many interesting and talented people. The worst is definitely never getting a day off!
What is one lesson you can pass down to future shop-keeps who are just getting started?
Mmmm… not sure I can really answer this one as I myself am just getting the ball rolling.
And those are actual cabbages growing outside the shop window! Thanks for sharing your cute shop with us, Jessica!
If you're ever in London, be sure to check out the Of Cabbages & Kings in person, but in the meantime, you can shop from anywhere, online!
