We’ve launched a brand-new blog series celebrating small businesses in Redruth, we wanted to highlight all the great shops and enterprises and shine a spotlight on each one once a month. Starting on small business Saturday (Saturday 3rd December) with the Craft Collective in Fore Street, we caught up with owner Annie to hear about her lovely little shop.
Hi Annie, thanks for being the first business to feature in our new series celebrating small businesses, when and how did the Craft Collective begin?
The Craft Collective began as an idea in 2015, I’d had this idea of being able to bring together people who were selling at markets and give them a space in a high street store. Then in 2016 the idea grew a little more and the perfect premises became available, and we opened our doors in June 2016.
What does the Craft Collective do?
The Craft Collective is a space for local makers and artists to rent a space to sell their work to the local community. Each maker pays a set fee per month for their space in the shop and has helped create three part time jobs for local people. It’s then our job to advertise, market, display, sell, package and sometimes post their work to the customer. We don’t take commission on their sales, so all the money goes right back to them. We work with a wide variety of different makers, from ceramicists, jewellers, woodwork, crochet and so much more. There are now over 60 different makers in the shop so there really is something for everyone.
Why did you choose to locate your business in Redruth?
I visited Redruth long before I moved here, and I loved the town centre and I discovered a wonderful sense of community I’d never seen before. After moving here in 2015 I met so many amazing creative people and I just knew that Redruth had to be the place to start this idea. I could not believe how much talent there was just in Redruth, in fact 70% of our artists come from the Redruth area alone. Redruth is still growing to become an amazing creative town, with so much art, music, theatre, and creative classes it’s a thrill to be part of it.
What do you strive to achieve?
Equality. This word has always been at the forefront of our values. Equality for the makers, our customers, our staff. Our makers come from all worlds, and they all deserve the same opportunity to sell their work. So our prices are fixed and everyone pays the same so everyone gets the same opportunity. Our customers equally come from all areas, so we aim to have things to suit everyone’s tastes and budgets.
“Our makers come from all worlds, and they all deserve the same opportunity to sell their work”
What kind of customers do you have coming in?
A wide variety of customers find themselves wandering in the door of The Craft Collective, but they all have one thing in common. They all love Handmade and love to gift or treat themselves to something a little different, something that you can’t get somewhere else, and they can’t wait to see what knew things we have in stock.
What’s your one best thing about Redruth?
The people. Redruth is full of characters, and they are all brilliant and friendly. The night before we opened our doors on June 4th, 2016, the owner of Homeground brought us coffee, Trevithick pasties made us lots of mini pasties for opening day, and the then Mayor stopped by to help hoover and I couldn’t believe what a wonderfully supportive community I was part of.
Do you have any big plans for 2023?
We are really excited to get back to a full year of workshops in 2023, from Jewellery making, sewing, painting and so so so much more, it’s going to be a brilliant year. Keep your eyes out in January 2023 for more details.
You can find The Craft Collective at 90 Fore Street, Redruth, TR15 2BP and online via Facebook or www.craftcollective.org.uk
Keep your eyes peeled for the next small business instalment in January, if you’d like to take part you can contact Jenn at:
