A QUIRKY store in a Northumberland village which sells everything from vintage dominoes to hand-knitted tea cosies has landed itself a concession in one of London’s most exclusive department stores.
Jenny Vaughan and Simon Young have built up a loyal customer base for the eclectic ranges of new and vintage homeware and objets d’art sold from their RE store in a huge site behind a petrol station in upmarket Corbridge.
The couple are now set to bring their Aladdin’s cave of homeware treasures to the historic Liberty store in Regent Street, London, which opened in 1875 selling ornaments, fabric and objets d’art from Japan and the East.
Jenny and Simon are due to move into a space at the store in April, where they will sell their wares until August, and are currently designing a mock-up of the shop to go into the trendy Regent Street store.
With Liberty hosting the store over the spring and summer months, the pair will be focusing on outdoor wares, including vintage garden tools, plant pots and watering cans.
There will be a number of second- hand pieces of furniture, and summer dining pieces and textiles by way of French stripe cotton fabrics and cushions.
Although the shop’s presence at the Liberty store won’t create any jobs, it is hoped that the increased interest will result in a jump in traffic for RE’s website.
Simon said: “It is fantastic that we have been chosen to feature in such a prominent and well-established store as Liberty.
“We were gobsmacked when we received the call and now can’t wait to set up the new shop.
“We have always had a strong customer base in London, so it’s great that we are able to give these loyal customers the full shop experience.”
Jenny and Simon also hope that a successful tenure at Liberty will result in them being asked back to the department store next year.
Michelle Alger, home buyer at Liberty, said: “I love the way that RE pull together such a variety of products and styles so cleverly that they all sit so well together.
“They have a great sense of fun which translates into the range that begs not to be taken too seriously.
“I think that RE will feel at home on the fourth floor of Liberty, where our own products will complement their considered selection. My favourites are the dining plates, the French stripe deck chairs and the hand-painted cans.”
