Through the Storm: 14 Years and Still Standing

A Note from Tiggi (May 2026):
I first wrote the bones of this post a little while back when things felt particularly heavy. Looking at it now, with the shop having been open since 2012—and our story actually starting back on Loughborough Market in 2009—it's a reminder that running a small business isn't just a journey; it's a rollercoaster. I wanted to share this here on our new site so you know exactly who we are and the heart that goes into keeping these doors open.

Running a small business is always a journey, full of highs and lows. But if I'm honest, the last few years have felt less like a journey and more like a rollercoaster ride through a particularly bumpy storm. We've been battered and bruised, but never quite out, and I wanted to share a little about what we've been navigating.

It all started with Covid-19 and the lockdowns. Like so many, we had to quickly adapt—closing our doors, following rules, and pushing through the uncertainty. It was tough. Even when we could reopen, people were understandably scared, and footfall remained low. But we kept going; we adapted, and we made it through that first wave.

Then, just as we were finding our feet, our community faced new disruptions. From local tensions and protests that kept people away from the village, to the literal ceiling coming down after heavy rains and flooding just before Christmas. We were trading in a shop that was cold, damp, and vulnerable, waiting on insurance and navigating builders in a partially functioning shop. It was far from the festive "December rush" we'd hoped for.

And then, just as the repairs were finally done, we faced the Market Place closure. What was promised as a three-month project for car park improvements turned into nearly six months of restricted access. Some days, even we struggled to get into the shop. Six months without proper parking or access for our customers is a long time to live hand-to-mouth.

All of this meant that instead of investing in new stock and growing, we were just trying to survive. Our little business has been left battered and bruised by these relentless challenges.

But we are survivors. We are in a rebuilding phase now. We're working hard to find new customers who will fall in love with the unique British products we so carefully curate—the "just good stuff" that makes it all worthwhile. That's why you'll see us out at more markets now and why we're pouring our energy into this website and our community online.

Every small purchase you make, every kind review you leave, and every share truly helps pull us back from the brink. Your support, no matter how small, is deeply appreciated as we work to rebuild our dream.

Tiggi x