#IBelieveInIndies

[ealinginsider]

The Ealing Insider comes out

A few of you read my first blog post back in June when I started my project to  bring some of Ealing’s highlights to you this spring and summer. My focus has been on finding great places for ‘me time’ and treats including coffee shops, pubs, restaurants and temptations from our independent shops, artists and makers. 

The Ealing Insider started as my project for the Digital Mums Social Media Management course. But it has become so much more. Although the course is now concluding, the Ealing Insider will go on and I thought it would be nice to introduce myself properly. 

Hello! I am Ellie 

I moved to Ealing six years ago (because of a man!) and fell in love with it. That man is now my husband and we have a little boy who has just turned four. As with many new parents, the juggle and the corporate world was no longer enjoyable / healthy so I set up my own business freelancing in Recruitment and Talent Management. Social Media is a huge part of this and an area I enjoy, so I took the plunge and became a student again to broaden my experience in the social media space.

This summer 

I have got to know some wonderful Ealing people this summer who you will have seen on my blogs including Charlotte Berridge, Lorna Kyle and Lucy Savage of Handmade in Ealing (or Lucy Chocolates as I call her) who even let me loose in her chocolate making kitchen. 

Charlotte and me at the Ealing Half Marathon

Lucy and me in All Original. 

I have introduced you to local businesses I know and love including Laura Downes Jewellery and Marie-Clare Cooks.

I have joined the weekly #EalingHour twitter chat and have enjoyed the banter and GIFs every Tuesday. I have even met some of them in real life over tea and cake. 

I have discovered new places because even after six years in Ealing there are new places to find all the time; either new openings, re-brands, or just places I hadn’t yet discovered. Hello to Ginger and Moore, Bob’s Cafe and Nepal Restaurant.

I have shopped. A lot. For research. For my project. For the independents. For you. It has been awesome and I have no plans to stop. (Special mentions to: Frank and Salvi on Pitshanger Lane, Mooch and Klein and Wallace on Northfield Avenue and All Original at Ealing Green who I have got some lovely goodies from. See my Instagram for some of my guilty pleasures.) 

I have become even more passionate about supporting our independent shops, artists and makers and got to know about the Just A Card campaign and Handmade Hour, both doing great things to showcase indies. I have now got the Etsy app (see above point re shopping) and I will do everything I can to support Ealing’s Indies. 

I have had the privilege to study alongside a fabulous peer group of fellow Digital Mums on weekly Google hangouts and this month we were all in London at the same time and met in real life. I suspect our Whatsapp chat and support will continue long after the course finishes.

So what’s next?

Coming soon on the blog are Northfields Allotments ahead of their fabulous Halloween Pumpkin Trail and the W7 Fox Market with a super competition before their upcoming Christmas markets.

I have made a personal pledge to support independents by doing all my Christmas card and gift shopping from indies and am hoping I might tempt some of you to join me (share your posts and photos with the hashtag #IBelieveInIndies).

I am going to change my logo to one hand painted by the wonderful Jules aka Now Then Sunshine who has been painting my weekly instagram quotes because I think it better represents the Ealing Insider. 

Indie shops, makers, photographers, artists, cafes, restaurants, pubs: I have your back and will do everything I can to support your businesses. 

Shoppers: I am here for you. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it! ;-)

Thank you for all the likes, comments and fun so far. Here’s to lots more of it. Please keep in touch.

Lots of love,

Ellie

aka The Ealing Insider

xoxox

Do follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

[ealinginsider]

You will go wild for Wilde and Sinclair!

It’s a great time of year for the fabulous FoxMarketW7 and they have their last market before Christmas this Saturday 9th December from 1-5pm. I can’t wait!

Last week we met Sophia’s Illustration and Sew Me Sunshine. This week I am delighted to introduce our third featured stall holder and the market organiser Victoria of Wilde and Sinclair. 

Hello Victoria!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have always loved making things and been drawn to anything sparkly. When I was little I wanted to be a film costume designer because my great-grandmother and grandmother worked in the wardrobe departments of film studios (one made wigs and the other knitted chain mail). It is partly because of my grandmother that I grew up watching black and white films and came to love the retro style of old movie stars.

Wilde and Sinclair combines my love of crafting with my love of vintage because I sell hand drawn cards as well as antique and vintage jewellery. The name Wilde and Sinclair derives from the surnames of the main characters in the TV show The Persuaders.

I combine running Wilde and Sinclair with my main job as a freelance writer/editor of academic reference books. I wrote my PhD thesis on fairy tales in art, literature and film so I usually write about film history, folklore and anthropology. At the moment I’m writing a multi-volume encyclopedia covering topics including smallpox and genocide. This is quite heavy going so it is lovely to switch off by drawing foxes and flamingos!

What is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece is my “Flamingo Fabulous” card. It came about when I experimented with the water colour function on my drawing tablet and I was thrilled at how well it turned out. I’m not sure why, but I tend to draw animals wearing hats or scarves.

What is your most popular piece?

My best selling card is also one of my favourites “Mr and Mrs Fox”. It sold really well in the summer because it chimed with the trend for woodland weddings. I like drawing foxes as they have such expressive faces.

What are your ties to Ealing?

I grew up in Hanwell and went to school in Ealing. I went to university in London so I stayed living in Ealing then too. All in all I have lived in Ealing for over 30 years.

Where can people see and buy your work?

I used to sell at every craft market I could but now I have so much writing to do that I only sell in person at FoxMarketW7 and my cards are currently on sale at the King Arms. I also sell on Etsy. I am also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I would love to stock my cards in local shops too.

What do you like about the Fox Market?

FoxMarketW7 is a brilliant showcase for local makers and indie traders – not just on market day but on social media too. The market has a friendly atmosphere because the traders know each other and many shoppers return each month. New stallholders are always made welcome and soon become part of the inclusive market community. The stallholders follow each other on social media and are very supportive of each other. Another thing that makes the market so good is The Fox bar staff who are incredibly helpful and hardworking. On market days the bar staff often come in before their official start time to get the tables and marquees ready for the traders.

Which local makers do you admire?

Everyone that sells at FoxMarketW7 is fabulous. In particular I adore Timshel Design and have two of their super stylish Toby Chairs (though I only get to sit on one as my cat has adopted the other!) Recently I’ve become a fan of Laura Downes Jewellery and I enjoy discovering the new chocolate flavours brought out by Handmade in Ealing. My friends Phoebe (aka Unicorn Jack), photographer Karolina Koziel and artist Sara Caputi are also extremely talented.

What is the biggest challenge and the thing you love the most? 

My biggest challenge is finding time to make. I used to make all my cards by hand but this was extremely time consuming. Now that I’m writing for around eight hours each day I often design cards late at night. I hand draw my cards on my Wacom tablet but I haven’t had any technical training so I have to pick things up as I go along. My favourite thing is that I get to do what I love doing. Not many people get to spend their day at home, writing and drawing.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

I have spent a lot of time in France and used to work on a food magazine so I love good food and eating out. The Ealing restaurants I visit most often are The Walpole in South Ealing, Sikulo Cafe on Northfields Avenue, Enjoy Lasagna in Hanwell and Lisa’s Restaurant on Pitshanger Lane. I also like the patisserie and teas at the Little Cake café at Hanger Green.  We are lucky to have lots of lovely pubs in the area and my favourites include The Fox Inn (of course!) and The Kings Arms at Hanwell. For food shopping I head to Pitshanger Lane.

Apart from food, I love cats and wildlife. In the summer I socialised kittens for a local animal charity and I enjoy going on the bat walks organised by the Ealing Wildlife Facebook group. During November and December I am giving 10 per cent of my Wilde and Sinclair profits to the Wildlife Orphanage in Selby (Yorkshire) that cares for and re-homes injured wild animals.

You can meet Victoria at the FoxMarketW7 this Saturday. Do come along!

Competition

Our competition is hotting up and is running until this Saturday! We have one of our best prizes yet up for grabs – a hamper filled with goodies from some of the Fox Market stall holders including:

Wilde and Sinclair

Sophia’s Illustration

Benjamin Finch

The Green Kitchen

Brand Posh

Peter Dunn Glass

Denalis Jewellery and Cards

Handmade in Ealing Chocolates

Gourmet Imports

Aqua Handmade Books

CraftyK21

(Scroll down for a sneak preview of some of the prizes)... 

The full hamper will be on display at the market this Saturday 9th December and we will announce the winner live at the end of the day!

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram (or BOTH to double your chance of winning!) and ‘like’ one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer. We would love it if you would follow Fox Market and Ealing Insider too!  

The competition is live now and will run until 4.30pm on Saturday 9thDecember. The winner will be drawn from a ‘hat’ and announced at c 5pm.

See you at the FoxMarketW7 on Saturday 9th December!

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

Competition Terms and Conditions

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram, like one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer.

You may enter on both platforms so can have two entries.

The competition is running from Tuesday 28th November to Saturday 9th December 2017.

All entrants names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Saturday 9th December, and announced live around 5pm from the Fox Market.

The winner’s name will be published across the Ealing Insider platforms of Instagram and Facebook and we will contact them directly to arrange delivery of the prize within the Ealing area.

The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except for Fox Market W7 and the Ealing Insider.

The competition is not endorsed by Instagram or Facebook.

[ealinginsider]

Need some sunshine in your day?

Earlier in the week we heard more about FoxMarketW7 and met our first featured stall holder Sophia’s Illustration.

I am pleased to introduce you to the second of our featured stall holders Harriet of Sew Me Sunshine. Her instagram is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and inspire even the least crafty of us.

Hello Harriet!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I only learnt to sew in March this year and quickly caught the sewing bug.  I loved spending hours online scrolling through online fabric and haberdashery stores picking the perfect fabric for my next dressmaking project.  My husband suggested that I turned my fabric hoarding habit into a business so I sat down and researched into different fabric wholesalers and manufacturers.  I wanted to have a brand that promoted happy sewing with colourful and unique fabrics and haberdashery items. I quickly sourced some beautiful stock including fabrics, haberdashery items, dressmaking patterns and sewing kits.  

Our shop name took a while to think of because I really wanted it to highlight our brand.  Sew Me Sunshine opened in August and has done better than I could have ever imagined and we celebrated our hundredth sale after six weeks. 

What is your favourite product?

Choosing a favourite piece from our online store is extremely difficult.  Every fabric delivery I find myself loving a new fabric, but if I had to choose I do love the Cotton & Steel range of fabrics that we have in stock.  I love the patterns and the stories that each Cotton & Steel collection has behind them 

And what about the most popular? 

At the moment a lot of our Atelier Brunette fabrics have been very popular, especially the brand new moonstone viscose, in fact we have just sold out of the navy blue version.

What are your ties to Ealing?

My husband and I live with our dog Albert in West Ealing. We grew up in West London and moved to Ealing last August - we really enjoy the community feel that Ealing has. 

Where are your favourite places in Ealing?

- The Grosvenor Pub because it is dog friendly and has yummy food.

- The Dodo Micropub because it always has good beer available and it has a really friendly atmosphere.

- The Moon & Maybe cafe because the staff are always friendly and it is also dog friendly.

- Mooch gift shop because they sell items from independent designers.

Where can people see and buy from you?

You can shop all of our items online via our website. I am also very active on social media as that is a great way to socialise with the friendly sewing community. I am on Instagram and Facebook. 

What do you like about the Fox Market?

We love the Fox Inn anyway for its food, drink and dog friendly environment.  As a market it has a lovely community feel and I am really excited to be able to share our shop with people in person as we are based online only at present. 

Which other independent businesses do you admire?

I admire many other creative businesses, but my two favourite local businesses are the Startup Sisters and Unicorn Jack (who recently featured here on the blog).

What are the highs and lows? The biggest challenge at the moment is managing time because I am working every day each week at present to keep on top of everything, but on a flip side I love everything about Sew Me Sunshine so it isn't that bad!

You can see Harriet at the FoxMarketW7 night market this Friday 1st December. 

Competition

We have one of our best prizes yet up for grabs – a hamper filled with goodies from some of the Fox Market makers including:

Wilde and Sinclair

Sophia’s Illustration

Benjamin Finch

The Green Kitchen

Brand Posh

Peter Dunn Glass

Denalis Jewellery and Cards

Handmade in Ealing Chocolates

Gourmet Imports

Aqua Handmade Books

CraftyK21

It will be on display at the market on Saturday 9th December and we will announce the winner live at the end of the day!!

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram (or BOTH to double your chance of winning!) and like one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer. We would love it if you would follow Fox Market and Ealing Insider too!  

The competition is live now and will run until 4.30pm on Saturday 9th December. The winner will be drawn from a ‘hat’ and announced at c 5pm.

I hope to meet some of you at FoxMarketW7 on Saturday 9th December!

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

Competition Terms and Conditions

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram, like one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer.

You may enter on both platforms so can have two entries.

The competition is running from Tuesday 28th November to Saturday 9th December 2017.

All entrants names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Saturday 9th December, and announced live around 5pm from the Fox Market.

The winner’s name will be published across the Ealing Insider platforms of Instagram and Facebook and we will contact them directly to arrange delivery of the prize within the Ealing area.

The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except for Fox Market W7 and the Ealing Insider.

The competition is not endorsed by Instagram or Facebook.

[ealinginsider]

Love Ealing Indies -  do your Christmas shopping at  FoxMarketW7

The Fox Inn at Hanwell started hosting a craft market around eight years ago so that locals had somewhere to sell their makes. Since May 2016 the market has been organised by Victoria from Wilde and Sinclair as a combined artisan and vintage market allowing shoppers to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

The market has been renamed FoxMarketW7 and refocused as a showcase for local makers and independent traders selling handmade, artisan, antique, vintage and upcycled goods.

The market allows local makers, collectors and traders to sell directly to the public with low stall prices meaning that even the smallest micro businesses can afford a stall. FoxMarketW7 has a growing number of loyal shoppers and social media followers and attracts stallholders from across London while championing the need to support local indies.

In April 2017 the market held its first indoor fair at Hanwell Community Centre and there are exciting plans in the pipeline for 2018 involving the Pitshanger Village Traders Association.

Keep in touch with Fox Market W7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Upcoming Christmas Markets

There are two markets coming soon to The Fox Inn, Green Lane, Hanwell, W7 2PJ... starting this Friday evening from 5-9pm with the night market, a lovely Christmassy market perfect for buying some Christmas treats and then next Saturday 9th December 1-5pm.

Stall Holder Profile - Sophia’s Illustration

This week I will be introducing you to three of the stall holders starting with Sophia’s Illustration. I love her painting and have recently treated myself to a couple of things from her Etsy store including a beautiful painted Christmas decoration and her fun tent badge, which reminds me of my little pop up tent I take to festivals. 

Hello Sophia! 

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Sophia and I am a freelance artist.  I started my business around three years ago upon returning from a few years of travelling and working abroad. I painted my first map of Wales upon returning to the UK.

I mostly I work in watercolour and gouache and I paint house and wedding portraits for customers and also sell a range of my paintings and maps as prints and greetings cards. 

What is your favourite piece?

My favourite piece has to be the 'English Country Garden' large painting I made this summer for an exhibition. It is larger than anything I have painted for a while and is full of colour. I was really happy with it! You can see the painting as a greetings card on my stall at the markets.

What is your most popular piece?

The best selling print is my illustrated map of Scotland. It is pretty popular and contains the beautiful landscapes of Scotland with some cultural highlights too. Lots of people seem to have a connection with Scotland.

What are your ties to Ealing?

We have not lived in Ealing all that long, but we really like it here. There are beautiful parks and lots of lovely inspiring places to see, sweet little independent bars and cafes and a nice arts scene. My partner works locally and we enjoy exploring Ealing and the surrounding areas on the weekends by bicycle. We live on a 42ft narrow boat on the canal, which is lovely and peaceful!

Where can people see and buy your work?

As well as markets, I sell online via Etsy and my website. I have really started to put a lot of energy into my online store this past year and have been reading and learning a lot about how to make it work. Computer work has never been something I enjoy, but I'm getting there! I also use Facebook and Instagram to post updates on my work and sometimes I run little competitions, so make sure you head over and say hi.

What do you like about the Fox Market?

The Fox Market is small and friendly and in a really eclectic setting. The Fox Inn is a beautiful pub and the quirky old building really adds to the environment of the market. It has a really nice vibe to it and I felt at home there straight away.

Which other makers do you admire?

One of the painters I really admire is Jane Askey. She travels quite a lot and paints stunning still life beach scenes full of energy, bright colour and pattern. I follow her on Instagram and am totally in love with her painting style.

What is the biggest challenge and the thing you love the most?

Working for myself as an artist was always a dream of mine and so now that I'm actually doing it I am so happy but sometimes it can be daunting. Some days it can be hard to find inspiration to paint or work on new designs or sort out some advertisement. There are a lot of different hats to wear as a creative and a lot to be thinking about, from planning for future exhibitions and markets, tax and admin and then creating new work.  So I think my biggest challenge is organisation and time planning! Keeping positive is key to being happy and enjoying the work.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

When I'm not working I enjoy visiting local green spaces for long walks and bike rides with my partner. I am a total nature lover and love to be outdoors and am definitely happiest when out exploring and covered in mud!

Thanks so much Sophia. 

You can win one of Sophia’s pieces and LOTS more in our super competition... read on for details. 

Competition

We have one of our best prizes yet up for grabs – a hamper filled with goodies from some of the Fox Market makers including:

Wilde and Sinclair

Sophia's Illustration

Benjamin Finch

The Green Kitchen

Brand Posh

Peter Dunn Glass

Denalis Jewellery and Cards

Handmade in Ealing Chocolates

Gourmet Imports

Aqua Handmade Books

CraftyK21

It will be on display at the market on Saturday 9th December and we will announce the winner live at the end of the day!!

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram (or BOTH to double your chance of winning!) and like one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer. We would love it if you would follow Fox Market and Ealing Insider too!  

The competition will be open from Tuesday 28th November until 4.30pm on Saturday 9th December. The winner will be drawn from a ‘hat’ and announced at c 5pm.

I can’t wait to see you at the market on Saturday 9th December!

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

Competition Terms and Conditions

To enter all you have to do is visit Ealing Insider on Facebook or Instagram, like one of the posts about the Fox Market and comment with your favourite Ealing stall holder / maker / artist / photographer. 

You may enter on both platforms so can have two entries. 

The competition is running from Tuesday 28th November to Saturday 9th December 2017.

All entrants names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Saturday 9th December, and announced live around 5pm from the Fox Market. 

The winner’s name will be published across the Ealing Insider platforms of Instagram and Facebook and we will contact them directly to arrange delivery of the prize within the Ealing area.

The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except for Fox Market W7 and the Ealing Insider.

The competition is not endorsed by Instagram or Facebook.

[ealinginsider]

Phoebe's cute designs will make you smile

This week we welcome Hanwell’s Phoebe, founder of fun greeting card and stationery brand Unicorn Jack. Her designs combine playful, humorous illustrations and sweet sentiments. I am a personal fan of her alpaca!

Read on to find out more about her and how you can be in with a chance of winning a bundle of her gorgeous Christmas cards and her new cosy penguin enamel pin badge - perfect for winter. 

Tell us a bit about Unicorn Jack, how did it come about?

I have enjoyed Arts and Crafts since childhood and developed an interest in digital art. As my creations became more popular among my friends and family, I found managing the level of production challenging. I started an Etsy shop in 2015 with ten greetings card designs. I was simultaneously studying for a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. I decided to combine the skills I was learning with my personal style and creativity. A couple of designs did well (a few not so well) and I continued to develop my illustrations over the next two years. I’m still learning and evolving and love trying new things.

At the beginning of 2017, I decided to re-brand my whole business and started Unicorn Jack which I feel encompasses everything that I have learnt and my signature style. I now make greetings cards, enamel pins and gift tags and hope to expand my product range in the future.  

How did you choose the name Unicorn Jack?

Inspired by Japanese ‘Kawaii’ culture, my illustration style is very cute and quirky. Most of my designs feature funny animals with little puns. I am also very proud of my British heritage and produce all of my products in the UK. I wanted to find a name that reflected my business identity and my roots. Therefore, a play on words came about turning Union Jack into Unicorn Jack. I love a good pun!

Who is the person behind the brand?

My name is Phoebe and I have lived in the same house in Hanwell all my life. I am now in the final year of my Graphic Design and Illustration Degree and expecting a new addition to the family in February. In my spare time, when I’m not doodling new card ideas or studying, I enjoy learning Japanese and playing video games, both of which inspire the playful ethos of my brand.

Which has been your most popular product?

The first was my Otter Birthday card ‘Have an otterly great birthday’ which was popular from the start. I have since done a little re-design on him, softening the colours and text. When Christmas came around my humorous Grumpy Cat took the top spot. My origami cards are popular in one of my stockists in Ealing and at my monthly craft fair stall customers are often entertained by my Unicorn Jack enamel pin.

Which other makers / artists do you admire?

Having previously worked in a printmakers gallery, I found a lot of inspiration from contemporary printmakers including London based artist Jess Wilson. She uses bright, funky colours and beautiful hand-lettering to create unique and thought provoking images that have always caught my eye. I also enjoy the works of cartoonist, writer and illustrator, Gemma Correll who creates amazingly funny doodles that always tickle my funny bone.

What do you love about Ealing? Where do you enjoy spending your time?

I have a lot of fond memories growing up in Ealing; walks around Walpole park in the changing seasons, seeing fantastic performances at the Questors Theatre and meeting my partner and love of my life in the Grove pub!

What is your favourite independent shop in Ealing?

It’s got to be Mooch on Northfield Avenue. They have such a fantastic variety of items from local makers and brands, I can never leave without something grabbing my eye! It’s my go to shop for gifts.

Where can people see and buy your things?

I have been selling my creations online on my Etsy shop since 2015 which is the best place to buy my products online. I also have my own website.

You can also find my products locally at:

- For Arts Sake, a lovely local gallery and framing shop.

- The Fox Inn tea barn. 

- Craft markets including The Fox Vintage & Craft Market and The Sugar and Spice Flea Market. I love these - it’s always lovely to meet customers and other local makers. The next one I’ll be at is The Sugar And Spice Flea Market on the 18th November held at the beautiful Grange Pub in Ealing.

 - They can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  

What's next for Unicorn Jack?

I am constantly coming up with new ideas for cards and plan to expand my collection in the new year. I also want to make a new enamel pin design so watch this space!

Instagram Competition

To win a super Christmas card bundle and the fabulous cosy penguin enamel pin badge (as pictured below), all you have to do is comment on one of the Unicorn Jack photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account answering the question ~ if you could choose any animal for a pin badge, what would you choose and why?

Thanks so much for talking to us Phoebe! 

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

The competition small print:

·        To enter, you must comment on one of the Unicorn Jack photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account answering the question ~ if you could choose any animal for a pin badge, what would you choose and why?

·        The competition is running from Tuesday 14th November 2017 until Monday 20th November 2017.

·        All entrants’ names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Tuesday 21st November 2017.

·        The winner’s name will be published on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram on Tuesday 7th November and we will contact them directly to arrange to get their goodies to them.

·        The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except Unicorn Jack and the Ealing Insider, as long as they will be in the UK for so the prize can be posted to them. 

·        The competition is not endorsed by Instagram.

[ealinginsider]

You will want everything from Frank and Salvi

I absolutely love Frank and Salvi, Pitshanger Lane’s beautiful clothing and accessories boutique. It is full of stunning contemporary brands and is just as stylish as anything you might find in central London. Last time I popped in, I left with a navy leather jacket and a tassel necklace. It is another example of a fabulous Ealing independent retailer and another reason to shop local and independent. 

I recently met with its owner Francesca, an inspiring local woman who has followed her dream and set up her own business. Read more to find out about the business and for details of a super competition on Instagram. 

How did the idea for Frank and Salvi come about?

I used to work on photo shoots for fashion and interior brands and whilst I was working for other companies I was always dreaming of setting up something in my own name. Becoming my own boss was always what I wanted later on in life, then a surprising vacancy came up on Pitshanger Lane and I couldn't miss the opportunity. 

How did you come up with the name?

The name Frank & Salvi was an easy choice for me, named after both my Granddads Francesco and Salvatore. Being from an Italian heritage, family is everything. 

How long has the business been going?

This November we will have been open for four years...eeeek! 

How and where do you source your beautiful products?

I am lucky enough to be a buyer in a time of social media, so we are able to test different brands from across the world as and when we like. However, the brands our customers (as well as ourselves) absolutely love and go back to time after time are mainly British and Danish. 

What brands are your favourites?

I must say I love all my brands in store. However, the brands that I am always scoping out for inspiration are Sandro, Maje and Sezane. As well as & Other Stories as they are great quality and are high street prices. 

What are your current best sellers?

Autumn is my favourite buying season. We have a big variety of jumpers and jackets which are selling very well as we approach the colder months.  The colour blush is popping up throughout the season and this chunky knit that just arrived from Numph ticks all the right boxes.     

What is your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge I face is not having a team in store on a day to day basis to bounce ideas off. However, I am very lucky to have a keen family and friendship group that are always such a big support. 

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Go for it!!! Life is too short to think ‘what if?’. Just be fully prepared that success doesn't happen overnight and you have to put in lots and lots and lots of your time and effort in to make it work. The best thing is you can create your own business to suit you, that's why I love it! 

How long have you lived in Ealing?

All of my life, so 28 years (well Perivale, does that count lol?)

When you aren’t working where do you love to go in Ealing?

When I'm with the girls we love to go to The Duke of Kent for a cosy drink. For family meals we love Santa Maria Pizzeria and Osteria del Portico and my boyfriend and I have a slight addiction to the Hare and Tortoise. 

Who else do you love on Pitshanger Lane?

I love all my fellow traders! I really try to use the lane for most things and these are the places you will find me when I am out and about down the lane:

For a little pampering, I love Heavenly Hair. When I need gifts for the family I usually head over to Fiona at The Pitshanger Bookshop or Stems Flower Gallery for beautiful flowers and grab a card from Present Company. Belinda at Harrison’s Deli always sorts me out for delicious goodies. My Mum loves the Portuguese custard tarts they have.

When I'm being healthy I head down to Temple Pharmacy as they have a great selection of gluten and dairy free snacks so I stock up here for the week. If you haven't already tried pistachio butter from Meridian, give it a go. They have lots of different flavours there and are all so delicious.

But if I need a sugar kick I go to Rachel at Cinnamon for a lemon and coconut slice or Ben at Oscar’s for a juice to keep me going through the day. 

Then if I have had a long week, I might treat myself to a Thai takeaway from Sisters Cafe. The girls in there are great and so friendly. Or if I have the time I will cross over the road to Hook and Cleaver butchers. All the guys who work there are fantastic at advising me on what’s in store to get and give great cooking tips.

I am so proud to work alongside them all. 

Frank & Salvi will be open on Sunday 26th November, along with some of the other shops on the lane when the Christmas lights will be switched on. Follow us on social media to find out more information. 

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Instagram Competition

To win the gorgeous clutch bag, mirror and a £20 gift voucher for Frank and Salvi pictured below, visit the EalingInsider on Instagram and comment on one of the Frank and Salvi pictures answering this question ~ apart from Frank and Salvi, who is your favourite independent business on Pitshanger Lane? 

A winner will be drawn at random on Tuesday 7th November 2017 and announced on Instagram. (Full Terms and Conditions below).

Thanks Francesca for inspiring us and for your beautiful boutique!

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

For more loveliness please follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

The competition small print:

·        To enter, you must comment on one of the Frank and Salvi photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account answering the question ~ apart from Frank and Salvi, who is your favourite independent business on Pitshanger Lane?

·        The competition is running from Tuesday 31st October 2017 until Monday 6th November 2017.

·        All entrants’ names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Tuesday 7th November 2017.

·        The winner’s name will be published on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram on Tuesday 7th November and we will contact them directly to arrange for them to collect their prize from Frank and Salvi on Pitshanger Lane. 

·        The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except Frank and Salvi and the Ealing Insider, as long as they will be in the area to collect the prize. 

·        The competition is not endorsed by Instagram.