5 new small biz buys that have caught my eye this month
An exclusive first look at things in my inbox 👀
I find it hard to explain my job title. “I run a market” is the general gist of what we do, running Salad Days Market. But because we also collate so much information and imagery from the small brands we work with, chat to them about new products we’d love to see them make, see exclusive collection launches, give advice about what’s been popular and how to curate their product selection, I also sort of feel like I’m an editor, a trend forecaster, and a professional shopper too (what a dream!)
All of these parts of my job mean I’m often first to see exciting new and exclusive products that haven’t launched yet. As brands drop their latest makes into my inbox! So I wanted to get some out of my emails and into your eyeballs. I’ve been sooo impressed with what I’ve seen.
These have caught my eye because of their ingenuity, originality and just generally how cute they are. And they’re all launching exclusively at our next market on the 7th & 8th June at Gipsy Hill Brewery Taproom! I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.
Brand new shell mugs from Katie Kingsley
Combining her adorable smiley face ceramics with a cute coastal theme, Katie has handpainted shells and sardines on to some of her best selling pieces to give them a new twist for summer and I loveee them. If you’re anything like me you definitely *don’t* need a new mug for your morning tea, but then, you also sort of do? She's also launching new sardine bag charms and pendants, which are on my shopping list. The European / Italian / Greek Summer theme featuring fish and shells is going nowhere and I think these will be so popular.
New summer fruits accessories which can be personalised from Little Letters LDN
This is the sort of photo which I think would go viral, because as we know the girlies love their trinkets (and I am one of those girlies!) Little Letters LDN had a sell-out hit with their apple bag charm at our last market, so now she’s expanding on her success with new avocado, strawberry and orange bag charms and matching keyrings. All of them can be personalised by Lucy with her stamping machine, making these little buys the perfect pick-me-up. Plus, I love how she’s styled these affordable accessories on designer handbags to make them even more covetable, that’s how I imagine most girlies would wear them! She stamped and sold 117 items at our last market, so I wonder if she can top that this time around.
One-of-a-kind pearl and shell jewellery from Saltwater
Whenever something is handmade and totally one-of-a-kind I already think that makes it inherently very special, but the way maker Meghan has combined shells, pearls and even a crab claw in her latest collection of jewellery really makes them feel like mermaid treasures uncovered from a big gold chest at the bottom of the ocean! Paired with a bikini and some salty beach hair I can’t think of a more beautiful or covetable summer accessory. These look to me like they’ve come straight from a designer catwalk because of how special and original they are. Just stunning.
New handbags made from vintage towels from Emily Davies
The creativity of designer Emily Davies is literally unrivalled in my world. If Emily Davies has no fans then I am DEAD! This girly just absolutely always hits the nail on the head with what is cool and original at any given moment, and it’s such a talent. Her latest collection of handbags and accessories are all handmade from vintage souvenir towels to give them a real retro summer flavour. These have that creative-Ibiza vibe that’s sooo hot right now, combined with the barrel shape that’s inspired by those Miu Miu bags all the cool girlies have. Emily Davies always knows what’s up, and her latest collection is it. New bag straps are an ingenious way to spice up an existing bag in your collection, and a way to add on charms thanks to the handy clips. So clever.
New chevron polaroid mounts from Sarah Goodwin
These have technically already been seen so they’re not a total exclusive, but I had to include them because I think they’re one of the coolest innovations in paper goods I’ve seen for a while. Inspired by the trend to take photos in old fashioned photo booths where you take away a strip of photos, designer Sarah Goodwin has made this new chevron polaroid photo mount so you can frame your photos more easily. As someone who has a whole drawer full of these strips and is unsure of what to do with them, this answers a problem I’ve had and for that I’m so excited! An affordable way to turn your cute Photo Booth moments in to expensive and premium looking artwork on your wall, and remember those special moments too.
Salad Days Market returns to Gipsy Hill Taproom on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June where all of these products will be available to shop for the first time! You can read more about it here. Which is your favourite piece and how would you style it? Let me know in the comments below.
Available on Saturday 7th June: Katie Kingsley and Sarah Goodwin
Available on Sunday 8th June Saltwater, Little Letters LDN and Emily Davies
