About Us

WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE SELL. 


When a delivery arrives, we get excited, even though we know what's inside. We unwrap everything with care, stroke it, price it and spend far too long finding the right place for it.

If we wouldn't display the products in our own homes, or offer them to our friends as gifts, then you won't see them in store.

For us, it's all about the detail.

   



 

I’m Jo and I started this business because I needed a better work life balance, I now work more hours than ever, but I love it (apart from completing the VAT return and refilling the pricing gun, I like to delegate those tasks). You’ll find me in the shop most weekends, when I'm not in Ampthill, I'm working from home in Norfolk, where I relocated to last year.

I love quirky things, I think our shop reflects that. I have a couple of Labradors called Charlea & Beauty and a husband called Paul, I didn’t mean to list them in that order but Paul will understand.

We like to go to the beach when we get time off, we eat fish and chips out of the wrapper, it always tastes better by the sea. I love holidays but I'm fussy where I stay, I’ve been known to change a booking because I didn’t like the carpet. Wi-Fi is essential when I'm away, I don’t necessarily use it (who am I kidding!) the feeling of not being contactable doesn’t sit well.

My favourite snack is a fish finger sandwich with Heinz tomato sauce and a cup of tea. I drink a lot of tea and prefer it when my husband makes it, he’s the expert. The girls in the shop make a decent cuppa, but it's usually cold by the time I get to drink it.

I wear a lot of navy, I wear a lot of grey too, I’m a creature of habit. I also wear a lot of stars, I have a slight addiction to stars, if you want to sell me something, make it in navy or grey & pop a star on the front.  I'll buy it!

My favourite season is Autumn, I love the changing colours and I’m sure it has its own distinct smell, it’s the season where so much changes in a short space of time, it doesn’t hang around, it just gets on with it – I like that. I don’t like the daddy-long-legs though, I have to make sure the house is in lockdown when those pesky things are around.

So that's me and that's what I enjoy in life.

 

Jo Barber, Owner

 

 

MEET OUR TEAM

It’s a team effort running the shop, let me introduce you to the wonderful team who assist me.

Lydia looks after our admin, supervises the shop, ensures our suppliers are paid on time, sorts out the payroll, deals with H&S, the billion things that happen behind the scenes and generally helps the business flow.

Maisie is our social media and marketing manager, she looks after our events, content, newsletter, PR, promotions and helps out in the shop during busy times.

Charlotte is our friendly face behind the counter from Monday to Friday, deals with the majority of deliveries and gets to see the new stock first.

Clare looks after the day-to-day running of the website.  She’s the one who will wrap your parcels and write your cards, she’s also the one who probably has the longest to-do list as the stock is constantly changing.

Larissa is back from maternity leave, helping out in the shop during busy times and merchandising our new season stock.

Jo (B) also known at 'the other Jo', helps out on Saturdays / Sundays, a good all rounder.

Lara, Callie and Esther are our super smiley weekend team, Lara and Esther on Saturdays, Callie on Sundays, both with a fabulous can-do attitude.

Kay is in her 2nd year at university and works remotely adding stock to our Epos system, then during the holidays she helps out in the shop to boost her Uni fund.