Buy British in the Cathedral Quarter
A new independent shop specialising in British made cards, stationery, gifts and homewares has opened in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter.
Ink & Thread in The Strand is run by Emily Baker who said: “’I have always had an interest in design and interiors and have thought about opening my own shop for a long time and it just felt like the right time to set up my own business.
“My passion is supporting British designers and producers – mainly smaller companies who focus on quality rather than quantity.
“As I started to source stock I quickly realised that I didn’t want to sell mass produced items made thousands of miles away and that lead me to one obvious solution, buy British from small suppliers.
“Just as people are increasingly wanting to know the provenance of what they are eating, we are returning to the days of being proud of buying British rather than something that has been churned out in a factory on the other side of the world and then shipped thousands of miles to our shop shelves.
“Once I started researching I discovered lots of fantastic designers and manufacturers who produce great quality items, they also employ staff from their local communities whether that’s in Stoke-On-Trent, Glasgow or Leeds which is another positive.
“The style of the ranges here are modern with bold bold primary colours that celebrate British heritage and style.
“By opening in time for Christmas I hope people will find something a bit different for their family and friends, they can also have the added satisfaction of knowing that they are supporting British producers; which I think is very important particularly in the current climate.
“There are some great shops on The Strand and all the other businesses have been very welcoming and friendly, there is a real community spirit. It’s of course early days for my first retail venture but everybody has got to start somewhere and I am really pleased to have found a beautiful building on a great street.”
Martin Langsdale from commercial property agent Raybould & Son who have leased the property to Ink & Thread is also the chair of the Cathedral Quarter management group, which drives forward activities under the area’s Business Improvement District status.
He said: “Ink & Thread is the perfect addition to the retail offer in this wonderful part of the Cathedral Quarter.
“The shop is well positioned on this beautiful neo-classical crescent of shops and with a restored traditional shop front with two large display windows and a third inside the Strand Arcade, the building perfectly reinforces Ink & Thread’s brand of style and design heritage.”