Our retailers are such an important part of the Wonderful World of Victoria Eggs. So, in celebration of the incredible people we work alongside, we’re proud to bring you our November Retailer of the Month.
This month, we spoke to the wonderful team at the St Paul's Cathedral Gift Shop.
We caught up with the Buyer, Garry, to find out a little more about their store.
Tell us a bit about your shop, Garry.
The shop is based in the crypt at St Paul's Cathedral, one of the most iconic buildings in London. The shop was on the Cathedral Floor until the last 90's, set up on trestle tables, before a purpose built retail space was then created in the crypt. The shop then had a makeover in 2016 and now is a warm, welcoming and well designed space.
We focus on design led giftware and religious products, as well as our own bespoke designed items. We also sell a lot of books on London and religion, with around a 50/50 mix of religious and non-religious items in the shop.
We also really pride ourselves on British made and Fairtrade items!
Describe your shop in three words.
Welcoming, surprising (guests are always pleasantly surprised by what’s on offer), and friendly (not just the vibe but the staff too!)
What's important to you as the buyer for the shop?
Making sure that we have a great range and mix of products for everyone. We have to make sure we cover every person’s tastes, needs and price ranges. Also knowing where our products are made; as far as we can be, we want our items to be British made. It also means a lot to all of us to work with independent British designers!
The majority of our customers are visitors from overseas - especially Americans - so we love being able to show the art of British craftsmanship.
What's your favourite season in the shop?
Autumn. Our busy summer season is finished and we have a bit of time before the busy Christmas period. It gives us time to look at new ideas and new ranges for the future. Then Christmas hits!
Why do you choose to stock Victoria Eggs?
We've been selling Victoria Eggs for over a decade now (since 2012!). The very first range we stocked was the Airfix design. Victoria Eggs' collections have always been consistent, and very on point for what we're about in the shop, really matching our values. Plus, our customers love the designs! Being made in the UK is a great selling point as well. We also love that we can work with Victoria to adapt new ranges, like the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee collection that was altered to include a design of the Cathedral.
What's your favourite Victoria Eggs design?
I personally love the Wildlife in Spring and Autumn Garden collections, and we're all very excited about the launch of the new Quintessentially London collection early next year!
Where can we find you?
In the crypt at St Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD