Lifestyle store Sunshine & Snow, located in the harbour town of Bideford in Devon, has had an incredible year by anyone’s standards. Opened in 2018, owner India Snow tells GiftsandHome.net how in 2019, the store has gone from strength to strength since opening its doors in 2018.
India, you seem to have had a fantastic year. Can you tell us more about the positives for Sunshine & Snow in 2019?
“Despite the negativity surrounding retail at the moment, we have had a really successful year both in store and online which is really promising. We opened up a second floor in June to expand our shop and offer a wider range of homewares and clothing which received a great reception from local visitors and holidaymakers. We also sell our products on the retail site Trouva, which has been a great boost to sales in quieter periods throughout the year. Plus, we’ve had such a high volume of orders in the lead up to Christmas that we have had to get more staff in to help pack orders, which is really positive!”
What have been the highlights/milestones for you this year?
“Winning the Muddy Stiletto award for the Best Gift Shop in the South West was a great achievement for us having only been open for a year. We were also delighted to be a finalist in The Greats 2019 Best Newcomer South and Wales category which was more great publicity for us.”
As a town, what is Bideford doing to get people to ‘shop local’?
“Bideford itself has had a real buzz about it this year, with a variety of cool independent shops opening up, and a strong ‘shop local’ campaign promoted throughout the local business community. Bideford also won the bid to receive funding from the ‘Future of Highstreets’ fund, which will massively help to regenerate the town in the near future. Other initiatives that the town council are putting in place include bringing empty shops back into use through pop up shops which is already proving to be beneficial to the town’s shopping experience. Plus, the Daily Telegraph recently published an article on the town – with Sunshine & Snow featured – which was more terrific publicity for us.”
With the Spring trade shows getting ready to open their doors, which exhibitions will you be visiting?
“In January, I will be visiting Top Drawer in London & Maison&Objet in Paris. These are the two shows that continue to inspire me, with both offering a curated selection of contemporary homeware and gifts.”
How are you feeling about 2020, and what plans do you have in the pipeline?
“I’m really looking forward to the coming year, as our small business just keeps on growing. I’ll be continuing to create an inspiring visual experience in store, and I’m also going to be focusing on creating a really personal experience for our customers to encourage them return again and again. Plus, I want to continue to grow our presence on social media too, as I find this a vital tool for communicating with our customer base.
“However, the focus for 2020 has to be sustainability. We are looking to ban plastic packaging as well as any products made from plastic, unless they are recycled. This will be a gradual process for us, due to being in a small rural town. However, I think the decision will also encourage a lot of mindful consumers to start shopping with us. I also have plans to introduce a café to the store but I’m not sure if I’ll get round to that this year! Overall, I’m looking forward to what 2020 has in store for us!”
Top: Sunshine & Snow in Bideford.
