Why you should shop independently in Petersfield
We are so lucky to have so many brilliant local independent traders in Petersfield! Here are some wonderful words from a few of them. If you want to see more of the incredible businesses in town head to our “Where to shop” page or check out our social medias.
What inspired you to start your business in Petersfield?
I had reached a certain time of my life and things felt a bit dull – very likely linked to the menopause. For instance, my mum had just died, one of my best friends was very poorly and dying in hospital and my husband Steven was battling with throat cancer. My husband, realising I was pretty low, suggested I ‘do something’ with my mum’s inheritance – I replied that I wouldn’t mind a little shop! I have always sewn and created and whenever I used to give homemade gifts to friends they’d always say “Oh Jo you’re so creative” – so that’s where Sew Creative comes from! I have a background in training and a love of bringing the community together – so it was crucial that we had workshop space in my little shop too! My mum lived in Petersfield and I knew it was the best location for the type of shop I wanted – I looked at little shops for rent but eventually settled on the rather larger than anticipated premises in Lavant Street and the rest is history.
In your opinion, what makes Petersfield a great destination for both residents and visitors?
Not long after I opened the shop I wanted to live in Petersfield- it is such a friendly town full of great cafes, pubs, restaurants and lovely independent shops with a very supportive community who are all keen to shop local and keep us all thriving. There is always something going on with great festivals and art exhibitions too. With a lovely town centre, interesting buildings, lovely walks and lots of hidden treasures such as the folly market and a fab museum offering all kinds of music and art activities too. We are now very settled in town and wouldn’t consider moving anywhere else again!
What’s your favourite thing about owning a business in Petersfield?
I love working for myself, being able to make my own decisions, we have a great team who work so hard to ensure our shop is always bright, cheerful and welcoming. I work very closely with other independent traders in town, it is crucial that we all work together to encourage our local and wider community in to see what we have to offer and to buy local – buying online is far too easy / it does take effort to visit shops – but the effort is worth it in the long run, other towns are crying out for a town like ours – we should all treasure what we have on our doorsteps. Use us or lose us, otherwise will all live with an out of town shopping environment along with parcels being left in your doorstep day and night / no thank you!
If you want to visit Sew Creative ⬇️
20-22 Lavant Street, Petersfield, GU32 3EW
What inspired you to start your business in Petersfield?
Petersfield has been our own shopping town for over 20 years. We love all of the small shops and the variety of goods they offer. Lavant Street is the perfect location for JUNIPER; we’re surrounded by great businesses with delicious food and drinks and a great variety of independent shops who all support each other.
In your opinion, what makes Petersfield a great destination for both residents and visitors?
Petersfield is well served by public transport and is a vibrant town with good schools in and around it. It has music and theatre and gorgeous countryside and great walks. With the Festival Hall, Open-air Pool, the Heath, a public library, great shops excellent food and more there is plenty to do in addition to shopping.
What’s your favourite thing about owning a business in Petersfield?
We love the people! Our regular and new customers are supportive, and interesting and give each day variety and colour! We love it that Petersfield people are open to experimenting, learning and trying all sorts of new ideas – and they’re warm and friendly too!
If you want to visit Juniper ⬇️
16 Lavant Street, Petersfield, GU32 3EW
What inspired you to start your business in Petersfield?
I have always lived in and around Petersfield, as have my parents, my grandparents and my great-grandparents. I have spent every stage of my life so far in and around Petersfield, as myself and my husband have got older we appreciate the community much more than we ever did in our 20’s and 30’s and so as we were thinking long and hard about a project to sink our teeth into these were all important factors, firstly it had to be in Petersfield, secondly it needed to enhance the community and strengthen our own ties within Petersfield. Petersfield is such a beautiful market town I believe it deserves the very best and that is what I strive every day to provide. Lastly, I wanted to be able to take my dog to work with me every day and so being so local that works perfectly for me.
In your opinion, what makes Petersfield a great destination for both residents and visitors?
Petersfield is the perfect size, you can have a leisurely mooch around the shops which can take all day if you stop for lunch in one of our many cafes and restaurants. Petersfield does seem to be bucking the trend of many high streets, for example when we did the Christmas elf trail we have over 80 independent local shops sign up to be on the map combined with a wonderful selection of other high street shops makes for a very diverse high street. I also think the location of Petersfield which is evenly situated between Guildford and Portsmouth (north to south) and also between Winchester and Chichester (west to east) means that we attract people from some distances to the town.
What’s your favourite thing about owning a business in Petersfield?
It has to be being a part of the community, not just in the way that it supports you, but also working with people from all walks of life each with their own agendas coming together for the improvement of the town. Since starting Hectors 4 years ago already the changes we have seen and been a part of, for example working directly with the town council and Petersfield Community Events to make sure everybody (with different goals) can come together and consider how doing one thing may affect the other and how we might mitigate and compromise all with the common goal of making Petersfield a better place to live and shop.
If you want to visit Hector’s Clothing ⬇️
4A Chapel Street, Petersfield, GU32 3DP
To see more of the brilliant traders we have in Petersfield head to our website below!
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