East Sussex retailers Greg Rose and John Dale, co-owners of two Maybugs stores in East Sussex, have announced the opening of a third gift store, in Bexhill-On-Sea, at the end of June. The new gift shop – formerly the old British Bookshops and Stationers shop – joins the couple’s Maybugs stores in Hailsham and Eastbourne.
“Maybugs has grown faster than we ever expected!” confirms Greg. “With the stores in Hailsham and Eastbourne going from strength to strength, it made perfect sense to invest in the business and open a third before the summer season kicks in. Of course, retail continues to be tricky, and shopping patterns now are very different to pre-pandemic times. However, our bricks and mortar stores, combined with our brand new website, are enabling the business to grow both in-store and online.We believe a strong high street presence, combined with a fully functional website, is the future for independent retailing.”
Nevertheless, as Greg admits: “there’s quite a bit of work to do to get the shop up to Maybugs standards, and to make it as fabulous as possible. But if all goes to plan, we look forward to welcoming everyone to our launch in late June!”
Adds John: “we’re very much looking forward to bringing our unique take on gift retailing to Bexhill. Of course, customers should expect to find all the fabulous things we have become known for stocking at the other two stores, including brands such as Wrendale, Inis and Jellycat. However, there will be lots of new things exclusively stocked at the Bexhill branch too. Bexhill already has an array of fabulous independent retailers and big brands, and we hope to complement the overall offering in the town, helping to draw in new shoppers and building relationships with the local community organisations too.”
In fact, it’s been a very exciting year for Greg and John already. Maybugs has been nominated for two awards – The Greats, in the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year – London, South, South East & East Anglia category, and in The Smalls’ High Street Hero category, with the winners of The Greats announced at The Gift Awards on 12 May, and The Smalls later this month.
Visit www.thegiftawards.com and www.thegiftawards.com
The first Maybugs gift store was established in 2018 as a standalone retail store in Hailsham Vicarage Field shopping centre. The Eastbourne branch opened in 2021 on in the former Laura Ashley building. When the new Bexhill store opens, Maybugs will employ 20 people across the group.
Visit www.maybugs.co.uk
Top: An artist’s impression of the new Maybugs gift store in Bexhill-on-Sea that will be opening at the end of June.
