Connaught Village is open
We caught up with some of the shops that have opened their doors again in Connaught Village. To find out what safety measures they have in place and why they are looking forward to welcoming you back into their stores.
MUD AUSTRALIA
TELL US ABOUT MUD AUSTRALIA?
Mud Australia designs and produces porcelain tableware and lighting collections. All our products are handmade in our Marrickville, Sydney studio by a team of skilled makers.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO STAY A FLOAT?
Launching a virtual consultation service online has allowed us to connect with our customers in a new and exciting way! We’ve been able to FaceTime and WhatsApp with our clients, and we will continue this service post-COVID. We’ve also launched live chat across our websites and introduced live stock online for real time availability.
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We’re limiting customers in store to just 1-2 people at a time, we have increased cleaning schedules and provided hand sanitiser upon arrival. All our pieces are regularly cleaned and our team follow strict personal hygiene routines. We also offer private appointments and consultations in store.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOW OPEN?
As many do, we still face uncertain times. All we can do as a small business is continue to build upon our core values of community, craft and sustainability. Moving ahead we’re looking to engage more with our surrounding community, continue to hand make beautiful products and excitingly we are taking the journey to becoming carbon neutral by the end of this year.
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
Come visit to view our beautiful collection of handmade tableware and lighting. Our collections combine handmade processes with clean, functional and refined colour palettes. The end result is a highly customisable range that happily fits within any interior. We’re a wonderful and ethical alternative to mass produced ceramic design. On a functional note, our vitrified porcelain means you can use our products in the oven and dishwasher.
Website: https://uk.mudaustralia.com
ELIZA JANE HOWELL
TELL US ABOUT ELIZA JANE HOWELL?
We are Eliza Jane Howell and we design hand beaded wedding dresses as well as red carpet gowns. We have over 100 stockists all over the world and our boutique in Connaught Village is our flagship store and is also home to the Gill Harvey Collection of occasion wear.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO STAY A FLOAT?
We have really upped our game in all our social media channels to keep in touch with all our brides to be. As we were unable to launch our 2021 collection to our stockists because trade shows were cancelled worldwide, we launched a special Instagram page for them to view and buy our new designs.
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
By appointment only, and one at a time and we have gloves and masks on site.
WHAT NEW AND EXCITING PRODUCTS ARE YOU SELLING NOW TO WELCOME BACK YOUR CUSTOMERS, IF ANY?
For all NHS heroes and frontline workers we have a 50% discount in store. Throughout lockdown we also ran a series of giveaways for both Eliza Jane Howell and the Gill Harvey Collection. We now have 6 lucky winners heading to our boutique over the next couple of months to choose their free dresses worth up to £4000 each.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE CONNAUGHT VILLAGE?
We love the areas close proximity to Oxford Street and yet the street itself has a wonderful village feel which is exactly the right vibe for our collections.
Website: www.elizajanehowell.com
Kindare
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
Because our garments are designed and constructed with longevity in mind both in style and quality. Our aim is for every piece to have a lifespan long enough to exhaust its carbon footprint, to lower waste, reduce landfill and outlast its ordinary life expectancy. We manufacture in real time to avoid the accumulation of excess stock and fabric wastage. So you can look Fab and feel good.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO STAY A FLOAT?
We are a fully scalable business so we stopped everything immediately at lockdown. We skipped Spring / Summer season and will make only a few exclusive pieces, then move straight into Autumn / Winter.
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We have reopened to an appointment-only schedule. This allows us to have one or two people at a time in the shop and atelier.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE OPEN?
The complexities will start now as we don’t have any indication of when or how the luxury market will re-start.
Website: www.kindare.uk
CIRCUS 25
TELL US ABOUT CIRCUS 25, WHY SHOULD OUR READERS SWING ON BY?
Because the Circus is too fun to pass!
We offer high-quality quirky designs for the home including bespoke furniture manufactured in England, vibrant fabrics and wall coverings, gorgeous accessories, curtains services and interior design advice. All of this service with a smile and a good laugh. We promise never to be boring.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO STAY A FLOAT?
Our amazing team have been able to work from home, and still keep our customers informed about our services and latest designs. Our online shop has also been open, and we have been able to safely ship items to clients around the country during lockdown.
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
Currently we only allow 2 people in the store at one time to better accommodate social distancing measures. We have hand sanitiser by the door for anyone who enters, and we wipe down all items that have been touched during browsing to ensure the safety of the next customer.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOW OPEN?
We are still a young company in Connaught Village and are still trying to establish our place in the area. We opened in December, and was only open for 3 and a half months before we had to close due to Covid-19. We are still working on establishing the brand with customers in the area, which of course takes a little time. However, we have had great support from customers in the area, and look forward to seeing them all back.
Website: https://circus25.com
LYON & TURNBULL
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
Auctioneers have adapted well to the ‘new norm’ with an increased online presence, and we offer one of the easiest ways for both buyers and sellers to access the market place with a wide range of products to offer and show. We will also offer you a warm welcome with beaming smiles!
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We have implemented numerous measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our clients and staff, including installing PPE screens, reducing staffing and limiting the number of people in our gallery, reducing opening hours, providing hand sanitiser and safety equipment to all members of staff, and an increased cleaning routine.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOW OPEN?
One of the major challenges we feel we are going to face is the ever-changing nature of the current situation and being able to adapt quickly to new government advice and requirements as it occurs. However, we are delighted to open again to the public, and will accept any challenges face on with careful consideration and positivity.
WHAT NEW AND EXCITING PRODUCTS ARE YOU SELLING NOW TO WELCOME BACK YOUR CUSTOMERS, IF ANY?
During the lockdown we have been able to hold a number of Online Only Auctions which we are delighted to say sold extremely well with high selling rates, and is a sign of how robust the auction and art market is. We are now thrilled that we can increase our capacity of sales to pre-lockdown levels and are planning our next array of exciting shows including Scottish Paintings and Sculpture; Modern British and Contemporary Art, Design & Studio Ceramics; Asian Art and Jewellery & Silver Sales.
Website: www.lyonandturnbull.com
CONNAUGHT CELLERS
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
We have been offering (and we still do) contact free deliveries if needed. We have a much more personal approach and service than supermarkets or chains, in the sense that we listen to our customers and provide recommendations, advice to match their taste and food pairing. We also have specialist wines from family owned wineries, wines with age (ready to drink), organic, biodynamic, natural, which you couldn’t find in bigger operations like most online wine shops or supermarkets.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE OPEN?
The difficulty is in the uncertainty, we lost parts of our revenue stream (private events, corporate events, wholesale/distribution to restaurants), we also had to organise ourselves to handle many more deliveries (packaging, daily collection for shipping companies…)
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We allow one group of customers at a time in the shop, this is displayed on the door. We have a counter at the entrance with a bottle of hand sanitiser, and for the customer who prefers it, we can serve them from this counter. The shop door handles, card machine are cleaned with disinfectant on a regular basis during the day.
WebsiteL: https://connaughtwinecellars.com
THE PLACE LONDON
TELL US ABOUT THE PLACE LONDON?
The Place London is a curated multi brand affordable luxury fashion store for women and men featuring designers that aren’t especially well known but have a real style. Some of the brands include:
Alice Archer, Sofie d’Hoore, Mii, Ulla Johnson, Nili Lotan, Saloni, Poustovit, Repetto, Laurence Dacade, Naledi, AAKS, Ionna Solea, Leathersmith of London and Lardini.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO STAY A FLOAT?
We have been closed for over 3 months to protect our staff and customers from COVID-19 . Since opening this week, the shops have been thoroughly cleaned and staff wear masks (which we sell also) and encourage customers to use hand Sanitizer at the counter. Any piece that is tried on will be withdrawn from the shop for 4 hours, and steamed before being put back on the rail.
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We have rarely more than 2 customers come in at the same time so social distancing isn’t an issue. We pride ourselves by offering excellent customer service. A warm and genuine welcome is what most of our ladies remember.
Customers have been invited to book appointments and also have Sunna Yates our personal shopper come to them with different looks. We have also offered our customers a VIP service with THE RESTORY who repair bags and shoes to the highest standard.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOW OPEN?
Making customers feel safe , comfortable and willing to spend.
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
For all the reasons mentioned before – service, atmosphere and beautiful clothes.
Website: https://www.theplacelondon.co.uk
Buchanans
TELL OUR LOVELY READERS WHY THEY SHOULD COME AND VISIT?
When we recently poured all our efforts into our retail offering, we expanded our range to include seasonal fruit and vegetables sourced from Natoora, fresh bread from Gail’s Bakery, free-range eggs and lots of new and delicious store cupboard items. We didn’t want to compromise on quality – we took the same approach to sourcing every item on the shelves as we do to sourcing our cheese. Lots of our customers like that they can come to us and assemble a whole meal from what we have – a particular favourite has been the sourdough pizza bases (for which we have tomato sauce, mozzarella and all sorts of other tasty topping ingredients).
WHAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE NOW IN PLACE?
We are serving one customer at a time in the shop and encouraging contactless payments where possible.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU STILL FACE AS A BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOW OPEN?
As a wholesalers our business is still very much reliant on the return of the hospitality industry – when the restaurants closed we lost 98% of our business. We reacted quickly to keep our shop open and to provide an increased range of products to our local community at the beginning of the lockdown. Our local customers were really supportive and we’ve had lovely feedback, but now that the lockdown is being eased, things have understandably calmed down a little bit for them and we’ve seen a drop in our sales.
Websigte: http://www.buchananscheesemonger.com
Visit Connaught Village online to see more of the retailers that are now open – www.connaught-village.co.uk
