Birthday Celebrations at our Retail Store 🎈

Last weekend we celebrated our first store’s 1st Birthday. 🎈 It was always a dream of mine to open a store and the space literally came to me by chance.

The Store’s Story

In 2021 I had 9 month only Ossie strapped to my front and wandered up North Berwick’s High Street. I was popping into a few shops and speaking to the people to spread the word that I was looking for a space for Laura Thomas Co. During my wandering I went into a little florist shop. I got chatting to the owner and walked away with a three month pop up for our brand for the run up to Christmas in 2021.

A few weeks later, out of the blue, the lovely Florist called me to ask if I wanted the space. She had found a larger more suitable premises for her business. Of course it was a no brainer! I jumped at the chance to open our first store, even with a baby in tow!

We ran the shop firstly as a pop up. Then closed after the festive period to do a full refurb including a rewire, installing hot water and heating. For such small space it too a lot of work and juggling around tradesmen getting covid.

We opened the doors permanently in March 2022, and its safe to say the shop has gone well and the support we have received from locals and visitors has been overwhelming.

I have learned so much about retail during this time and the importance of slick systems. The current team are amazing and Manager Mary-Clare has recently created to most wonderful dried flower window installation.

Our aim for the Store is to create a community. We are more than just a store. We are a place to enjoy a scent experience, have a chat, discuss sustainability (a topic we are so passionate about) and a place where everyone is welcome.

So to celebrate 1 year, we invited anyone who could come, to pop in and enjoy a glass of fizz (alcoholic or elderflower) and cake. We had the most amazing Rainbow Cake 🌈 make for us by a local North Berwick kid, Angus, see his instagram @angusbakes he is an incredible baker for being only 14 years old.

The Most Amazing Goodie Bags..

AND we handed out goodie bags to the first 15 people in store on both Friday and Saturday. Each bag had one of our Coastal Candles in them worth £28 and goodies from the following amazing businesses also contributed;

Biscuits and totes bags from Nairns, a relaxation mask from Space Masks, Seaweed supplements from Doctor Seaweed, Spa vouchers Whitekirk Hill Spa, the main tote bags from Love Surf, 30% off classes at Move Yoga Studio, £20 voucher towards a massage at Kinship Yoga, mini Fidra Gin bottles, art supplies from local art shop Rock and Bird, pukka tea bags from local refillery and eco store Peppermint Beach, a Bonzo Art greeting card, Pilates class Vouchers from Vharri McMinn Personal Training, Cheese vouchers for The Cheese Lady in Haddington, and Breakfast or Lunch for two at local Gullane cafe Goose on the Green.