14 Nov 2008
Finished with a little help from our friends... Charlotte and Jo.
13 Nov 2008
Nearly there! After a full day dressing the shop Sarah and I left happy to know that so many people had dropped by and were delighted with how the shop was looking.
Abaca's organic mattress and divan base with chemical-free upholstered headboard by Harlands Organic Furnishings in Fennel, Hardy Organic Hemp by Emily Todhunter for O Ecotextiles. Gorgeous hemp bedlinen by Jilly Cholmondeley.
Soft furnishings and accessories by One Eco Home. Organic linen vintage style nightdress by Poule De Luxe.
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Vintage bench and trough by Bird. Ethically sourced, organic sheepskin rug and felted pebble cushions by One Eco Home.
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Vintage cupboard, sacks and trolley by Bird. |
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12 Nov 2008
Take a peak before Saturday. The back of the shop/ground floor.
Vintage shelving and homeware, organic tea sets and handmade tea cosie's.
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Vintage ceramics and children's craft kits.
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Ethical leather handbags, eco friendly shoppers and handstitched clutch bags.
10 Nov 2008
We are finally in the shop and the huge task of dressing the space has begun. With this years new group of fabulous companies each delivery has been full of exciting new eco products and we are very excited about whats available this year making this shop the first stop for all your green and ethical xmas presents, and of course a treat or two for yourself.
Tired after a long weekend but happy as something lovely begins to appear.
To begin with Sarah and I would like to thank the group of people who have put in time getting the shop ready. First and foremost we would like to thank Ekaterina Belcheva of Ultimately Eco who rather wonderfully for us spent two days cleaning the shop, and teaching even us greenies a thing or two about how to clean in the most ecological way possible. Ekaterina's company offers green cleaning services (for homes and offices) and a wide range of eco friendly cleaning products and materials. Her range of eco cleaning products will be available in store. Our appreciation also goes out to Katie Keegan of One Green Earth who also spent all day Saturday tirelessly helping us in the shop with cleaning or whatever job came up. We thank Helen Mudie of One Eco Home who gave help and advice on Saturday with styling the shop. Thanks also to Laura Frith of Just Trade who organised all sorts of useful things over the weekend and periodically turned up with drinks. And BIG THANKS go to Ray, partner of Nerissa Ali of Draper's Organic who gave his time to share his expertise in how to dress the shop on Sunday. Thanks also go to Liz Cook of Elizabethcookdesign and Yasmin Halai-Carter of First Impressions Last Longest and ginger Jo (Sarah's friend) who helped with the often tedious jobs of unpacking boxes, moving stuff around and dressing the displays on Tuesday.
A good start:
6 Nov 2008
24 Oct 2008
We are delighted to be able to announce the opening of 'our eco shop xmas 2008' on the 10th Nov. It's a very exciting time and the co-operative has brought together an outstanding group of green companies and people.
Images of the shop below (I forgot to take a photo from door inwards). The pictures don't really show clearly how large the space is but this gives you an idea. The walls and shelving is beautifully upholstered with a very vibrant fabric and looks great.
Its very exciting to be in such a great location and to be able to show people what an amazing amount of green products there are out there so make sure you come by and see our great mix of eco products from clothing to homeware, accessories and gifts.
Outside
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The front of the shop, left and right from middle of the room.
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The back of the shop from middle of the room, door obscuring the left hand side and thats me you can see in the mirror which gives you an idea of how far back the room goes. Fantastic, deep shelving along the right hand side and another low shelf with drawers on the right.
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Wide stairs lead down to another large space which is made up of two circular rooms, one within the other. The larger space is a crescent shaped room leading from the stairs and to the right you will see the smaller room full of shelving, which is a good size too.
(left)Looking back to the stairwell and (right) from the middle of the room looking towards the stairs.
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(left) From the middle of room towards the back and (right) the back again from further into the room showing the second room on the right.
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(left) Back of the larger room looking into the second room and (right) the second room.
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There are changing rooms and lots of storage on both floors.
Many thanks to Ballantyne Cashmere for allowing us to rent the shop and to Amy Coates at NB Real Estates Ltd for organising it.
Oct 2008
We've found a fantastic shop at 303 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill - great location opposite Paul Smith's and we're now busy preparing to open later this month. So if anyone is interested in getting involved please get in touch ASAP.
Call Sarah Baulch on 07949 170381
or email Lisa and Sarah at mail@ourecoshop.co.uk
Preparation for the christmas shop has begun and we would like to hear from any eco designer/makers who would like to be involved in stocking and running an eco shop based in central London (likely location Kings Road) for two months from October to December, approximately two days per month commitment required.
Please note this is run as a co-operative and monthly rent/bills are shared between everyone. All sales go to each individual designer/maker. For more information on how this works please email.
Sarah Baulch of revampit.co.uk who has had lots of experience running a co-operative called 'Mad Art' and setting up temporary events and shops will be bringing it all together this year. Sarah also does PR and marketing consultancy for green businesses so will get the shop off to a flying start.
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Bags designed and handmade from preconsumer textile waste by Sarah Baulch at Revampt. |
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Hand-Knitted hot water bottle made from British organic wool and natural organic dyes. |
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Feb 2008
Thank you for everyone who came by we are now closed and will be reopening again in the autumn. Please visit again for dates, times and venue.
6 Jan 08
Bridget West (piecesofyou.co.uk) running eco craft workshops for children on Weds after school and Sundays at the shop, see craft workshops page for details.
5 Jan 08
Happy New Year! We wish everyone a peaceful, healthy and prosperous 2008.
22 Dec 07
Our Eco Shop will be closed from Sun 23rd Dec until Fri 4th January.
Merry christmas!
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20 Dec 07
We've just received a message from Charlotte and Tabby who did the sponsored cycle yesterday for Centrepoint and Emmaus two charities supporting the homeless, see 13 Dec entry.
'We did it!!!!!!! It took us 6 hours to cycle 30 miles, including lots of breaks for chocolate! So if you have not already donated, please do,and if you have, please donate even more justgiving.com/30milerichmondpark.'
Tabby and Charlotte xoxox
They raised over £850 pounds. Well done girls!
19 Dec 07
Jonathan Ladd our resident photographer will be at the shop on Friday all day so anyone who hasn't had the time to come by and see his photographs can stop by and meet him. His large photos are also available as smaller prints and would make a great xmas present.
14 Dec 07
With only nine shopping days until christmas, drop by and pick up lovely stocking fillers, gorgeous gifts, decorations and beautiful wrapping paper for an ethical/eco christmas.
The Candeloo light set include two lamps (Blue/Green or Red/Pink) and once charged will give up to eight hours of light.
Tea cosy by Elizabeth Cook.
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Organic cotton/hemp printed apron by Bridget West. |
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Recycled heart decorations by Sarah Baulch as featured in the December 2007 issue of Country Living. |
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13 Dec 07
Help a good cause and spread good cheer!
Just heard some news about two lovely girls, Charlotte and Tabby age 13, who are doing a sponsored cycle ride in Richmond Park next Wednesday raising money to help two homeless charities. Anyone interested in sponsoring them for such a good cause please follow the link justgiving.com/30milerichmondpark
Two weeks after opening and the shop looks lovely full of ethical, fair trade, recycled, organic and eco friendly products that would be great xmas presents for all those special people in your life... gorgeous soaps, baths oils, lavender bags, tea cosie's, candle holders, shopping bags, hand-knitted hot water bottle covers, xmas stockings, beautiful recycled glasses and much more. Here is a small sample of what you'll find in store:
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Also in store is a selection of recycled chairs and tables, chemical-free upholstered furniture and a large selection of organic furnishing fabrics including cotton, hemp, wool and silk available by the metre and suitable for upholstery, curtains and blinds from Harlands Organic Furnishings (organic-furnishings.co.uk).
And a range of hand-printed environmentally friendly wallpaper.
26 Nov 07
What a grand opening we had! A few stressful moments leading up to it, but well worth it in the end. The nibbles and drinks went down very well as did our work! It was lovely to see everyone enjoying the beautiful collection we've brought together. Included are Sarah Baulch of Revampt (revampit.co.uk), Ruth Singer, designer/maker (ruthsinger.com) , Liz Cook of Elizabeth Cook design (elizabethcookdesign.co.uk), Jane Mosely of The Green Haus (thegreenhaus.co.uk), Karin Turner to mention just a few, and last but not least Jonathan Ladd's (jonathanladdphotography.com) beautiful landscape photographs brought the finishing touch to our lovely space and will be on show until the end of January. Over the next few weeks we will be introducing ourselves to you and writing about the work each of us does or better still come down and find out about us at the shop.
Julian Angus of oldkitchen.co.uk and Jude Hutchins, Ceri Rogers of abacaorganic.co.uk and Kate Scott.
Luisa Mclean of naturalupholsterer.co.uk, Lisa Harland of organic-furnishings.co.uk and Sandy Mackay.
Sarah Baulch of revampit.co.uk and Nicola Giuggioli of eco-age.com who will be opening the new ECO store in Chiswick.
Bridget West of piecesofyou.co.uk, and Caroline Boa.
Our lovely shop.
12 Nov 07
Lisa and I have invited eco designers and makers to share a space in our eco shop and give everyone a bit of control in the process. We can have launch nights, meetings and there is even a room in which people can run small workshops. We have found this lovely little gallery (cathillgallery.com) that is going to host us and our grand plan. Now we just have to get it ready by the 23rd November! Abel and Cole (abel-cole.co.uk) are giving us some nibbles, RDA Organic (rdaorganic.com) are giving us 30 bottles of smoothies. Organic-Champagne are giving us two bottles of Rose Champaign (organicchampagne.co.uk) and (buyorganics.co.uk) is very generously giving us a case of wine for the launch evening.
Thank you everyone for your generosity!
- Bridget West