retailer spotlight: you, ruby loves and baby you

country-living theme to the prod- ucts. Alongside the beauty products, a tall wooden chest offers books on baking, flower arranging, thrifty living, furniture and interior design. Ceramic tables, glass shelves and traditional dressers throughout the body of the shop

throughout, and farmyards icons such as pigs and geese are set alongside checked blankets. Vintage icons are given a modern twist in pieces such as glass per- fume bottles, polished white dressing tables, doorstops, and or- nate renaissance-inspired chairs.

“We try and appeal to every sense so that customers are met with music and pleasant fragrances. Even lighting and temperature are considered because they

are part of the shopping experience.”

Liz Stevenson, owner of Y

hold an eclectic yet coordinated mix of housewares products. Artificial flowers spring from the spaces be- tween metalwork birdcages, goblets and trays of picnic-ware; chrome champagne buckets sit next to rattan baskets, candle-hold- ers and cushioned hanging hearts; decorative photo frames are juxta- posed with retro phones and luxury wool cushions by Jan Constantine. The product offer emanates British heritage. Materials such as chrome, leather, rattan and wood run

ou, Ruby Loves and Baby Y ou

References to historic and exotic eras come in the form of colonial and roman inspired replica busts and leopard print finishes. The back corner of the shop holds a comprehensive offer twin- kling jewellery from brands including Pandora, and leads through to a selection of clothes in- cluding kitsch rose pattern pyjamas, jackets, floaty chiffon dresses, scarves and mid-size handbags. A huge white dressing table, ornate mirror, candelabra and vintage-style

accoutrements provide a boudoir feel to that part of the shop. Liz says of the shop’s layout, “I try to tell a story and not to con- fuse people; customers want to be impressed, not confused. I used to go for ambitious displays, but now I prefer to keep it more pared down, but still striking. The goal is always to go for minimalism but it never works!” You has a great relaxed atmos-

phere and is choc-full of exciting curios which make it popular with the locals. Liz says that she uses in- tuition when buying stock more than anything, “I basically choose what I like personally. I really go on gut instinct because I can’t sell what I don’t like; it wouldn’t flow if I picked products that I don’t appre- ciate or understand.” She says that this approach has paid off, partly because the customers identify with her tastes, “The shops work in terms of products because if you like one thing then you’ll probably like others. They are connected in terms of their appeal and a lifestyle that shoppers here like.” Consequently the shops’ long- standing popularity has helped develop a reputation that has sup- ported them through the recession, as Liz muses, “The shops have been

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