Chapter 1 - How did it happen?
Last year, I reluctantly closed my shop in Dulwich due to the road closures, costly penalties, parking difficulties and cyclists hurtling along the pavement, all of which contributed to a drastic loss of footfall. I had and have no intention of stopping what I do but it was definitely time to re-think the future. I love working in India and have the most creative and clever partners. My shop was really gorgeous, unusual, stylish, and attracted like minded customers who understood the value of hand made and beautifully crafted things that are not throwaway.
The decision to buy a building in Bexhill -on-Sea was not immediate. We went through a couple of very costly attempts at buying in St Leonards first.
Serendipity!
Yes, I think so. All credit to Ollie and Alex at Dyer and Hobbis, who gently encouraged us to take a look at what was and still is a very neglected and run down building in St Leonards Road, Bexhill.
First impressions. No thanks, we’re off! Admittedly, we did have our initial introduction to Bexhill and the building in November last year and it was probably one of the coldest, wettest days of the month. Dark grey sky. The wind whipped off the sea at a force 9 and the rain was horizontal. The building, handsome, the street, not so. Yet!
Stepping inside the smell of damp was overwhelming. I’m not an expert, but the fact that 5 other people before us had made offers and then withdrawn them was a bit of an indication that there is major work to be done on a huge scale. We drove back to London feeling despondent and rather negative.
A new day dawns and with it, new thoughts. We made an offer. The vendors rejected it. We made another, they accepted it.
And so the adventure begins.
