This October we celebrated 2 years of Withnell! Well actually nearly 3 years, as it took me months of research and hard work to get to the point of opening our online store.
I just couldn't be prouder of what we have achieved and this is thanks to you our customers. Building a strong community has been vital to the growth of the business. Customers reading, thank you for believing in me. Every customer, follower and subscriber is part of our history, our tapestry and our journey.
I couldn't have done it without the support and encouragement of my family, especially since I have taken over nearly every room in the house.
5 thing I have learned since starting Withnell
1. Always trust my gut - I have learned that I can do it my way and let creativity lead, it doesn't need to come together in a traditional way which is good because my mind doesn't work that way.
2. It's harder work than I could ever imagine, I have had to learn many new skills but the rewards are great. Planning and organisation is key to managing my time.
3. It's really fun - Getting out there and meeting new and familiar faces is a joy. Withnell has given me the opportunity to do what I love, to be creative and try new things.
4. Not everyone is my customer but my customer is out there, I just need to find them or they find us.
5. There is a fantastic supportive community out there. Customers, followers and the fabulous makers community provide a whole lot of positive energy.
When starting Withnell, I was working out of a small room in the house, over time this space became over crowded and truly I had grown out of it. So my husband and I put our heads together and decided it was time to say goodbye to the garage and hello to a brand new studio. As a business owner especially in the textile/ creative field you need SPACE! Space to make, seek, create, let the imagination flow.
Two years on and we will be opening our studio doors to you.
I have moved in to my new work space and will be announcing open studio days through our newsletter and social media. I'm not sure when they will be yet as there are a few things to finish off.
In the meantime if you are based in the North West or travelling in the area and would like to come visit us and have a browse or look, feel, try, order and buy then please continue to email
hello@withnell.co or DM on instagram to arrange a convenient time.
Reflecting on what we have achieved in year 2 is really important to us, we have grown our community and have customers coming back to us time and time again! Which is the biggest reward.
One of our core values is making our customers feel seen. We understand what it's like out there on the traditional "shop floor" and I hate to say it but I believe we are more like numbers to most companies. Customer service is key to us, and is one of the huge benefits of running a small company!
On our second birthday we sent one of our customers a small gift from us, we did this last year too. The email from this customer made me cry, I talk about this because this is real life, real emotion and real connections with customers which is vital to running a successful business.
Below are some of the lovely creative people we have met along the way. It gives me great pleasure knowing that they love wearing Withnell. We love to support these small business owners and the world of small business and makers is one of the most encouraging, fabulous commmunities I have ever had the pleasure of being part of!
Below are links to some of the lovely creators and makers we have met along the way. You may even spot a Christmas present or two.
Creators and Makers
Lanx shoes
Lovely ladies & mens shoes, boots and a range of accessories. We used samples from Lanx in our latest photo shoot.
Elsie Moss Botanical
Lisa hand makes soaps, scented bath salts and other luxuries for your skin. She works from her studio in Derbyshire. The first maker we met at our first ever event.
Godrevy Textiles
Sarah found us and fell in love with Withnell. Sarah creates a beautiful collection of handwoven pieces that she skilfully weaves from her home in Cornwall.
Lou Tonkin
Lou is a lino print maker based in Cornwall. Her work features flora and fauna found in country hedgerows. I have been a fan of Lou's work for some years now and was lucky to meet her earlier this year at Craft festival Bovey Tracey. Lou loves the earthy tone of the Withnell colour palette and is a huge fan of linen.
Sophie Victoria Anderson
Sophie creates stunning and very wearable silver jewellery, bowls and decorations using an etched enamel technique. We met Sophie at the Festival of Making in 2023 and meet her often now at events we both attend. Sophie fell in love with our Dorothy peplum blouse. We named our Sophie stripe after Sophie.
Folk and Kin
Gemma is a lifestyle photographer based in Cumbria. Her beautiful images capture the everyday details we often overlook. Gemma has supported Withnell from the very start. We have collaborated together and Gemma was the photographer for our latest shoot at Brinscall Hall
Corrine Eira Evans
Corrinne makes bespoke and handcrafted chainmail jewellery, inspired by the wild & wonderful landscapes of Dartmoor. Corrinne approached me after Craft festival Bovey Tracey as she loves the tone and style of Withnell. We collaborated for her latest photoshoot.
Studio Boketto
Olivia and Micky are bright and fun. We met them at The Festival of Making. Studio Boketto celebrate creativity through their vibrant collection of greetings cards and stationery.
This is just a few of the lovely makers from a huge and supportive community that we are proud to be a part of. I wish I could list them all.
If you've got this far thank you for reading and being a part of the Withnell Journey!
