Launched on the 28th May 2010, notinthewightstreet.com, has emerged as a clear favourite on the worldwide web. Bringing together many small independent Island retailers and local creative talents it is offering a multitude of unique and special gifts for sale all in one place.
Co-creators, Jo and Mike of Bembridge Emporium, state that “some of the very best beautiful individual shops our Island has to offer are now accessible to all at the click of a button, in addition to established and yet undiscovered creative talents”.
A labour of love, this website has been a year in the planning. Consulting with local retailers the site has adapted and grown. Remaining true to their mission of promoting small businesses and crafts, Jo and Mike continue to scour Island-wide in search of more exclusive retailers whilst hunting out the hidden gems our Garden Isle has to offer.
“Our true aim” says Jo “is to actively display just how wonderful the Isle of Wight shops are. Whilst shopping ever rapidly moves on line we feel it’s important to still enable the consumer to buy with a confidence that can only truly be given by your caring local traders. Furthermore, we see that Island people want to ‘shop-local’ and support our independent shops”.
Highlighting the increasing number of talents being added to their site, Mike informs, “even we were taken aback by the huge amount of interesting and unique crafts the Isle of Wight has to offer. Our only difficulty now is the time it takes to bring them all to you on line, it really is very exciting”.
With independent shops such as Crocus Interiors, IW Natural Candles and Lavender Blue, all in Ryde combined with My House, Newport and both Shorelines and Galerias of Cowes, notinthewightstreet.com brings you an array of established and much loved names. All sat alongside such well known Island creators as Available Light Photography and Dawn Campbell (Pelham House Gallery) Textiles.
The message is clear, Isle of Wight businesses are diverse, adaptable to your needs and most importantly – here to stay. United in a new worldwide venture, who could possibly provide their customers a better service? So take a look now www.notinthewightstreet.com
