Was Opening a Pop-Up Shop in Totnes Worth It? (Part 1)
- Liberty Feist
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Short answer? Fuck Yeah.
Long answer? Oh boy, pull up a chair...
About Our Pop-Up Shop
In October 2024, I opened a week-long pop-up shop on Totnes High Street with my bestie Tracey and her biz Wren Pottery. Just the two of us - two small businesses, one set of shop keys, and a heap of hope (and biscuits). We turned a blank retail space (Studio Nine) into something that felt magical, and made our little retail dreams come true... even if it was for just a week. Ceramics, journalling bits, wellbeing goodies, coastal treasures, art that makes you breathe out slowly… all wrapped up in witchy, empowering vibes and the kind of aesthetic that says, “yes, I do love the moon, thank you for asking.”
A Whole Shop? We Made It All.
Let me say this loud and clear: we hand make everything. Every sticker. Every dish. Every print. Every mug. Every bit of gold leaf, glaze, clay, cut paper, and carefully cut sticker.
For us, as makers, running a physical shop wasn’t just “oh cute, let’s just order more stock!” ... no, no, it was:
pulling late nights in the studio
juggling drying times with Devon’s damp air, and school pick-ups
trimming, designing, printing, cutting, glazing, pressing, firing, packing
"quickly" producing new Limited Edition prints, bc imposter syndrome is an absolute dick and you don't feel like you've got enough to show.
then praying nothing cracks in the kiln or slips on the cutting mat
We’re not hitting “add to cart” on some supplier website. We’re literally building the stock from our fingertips. It’s exhausting, exhilarating, and a little bit unhinged - but it means that everything we put out on our shelves has soul, has a story, and has gooood vibes.
The Overwhelm Was Real
There were moments we looked at each other like, “Who let us do this?” We got in a little practice the month before (amidst all the chaos), each doing some cover days at our friend Sam’s shop (shoutout to That Crafty Stitch!) to practice our customer service, talking about other people's products, and get used to actually having keys to a real shop. But when it came to our little shop, the pressure hit differently - it wasn't just about sales. It was about showing up, creating an experience, and somehow making it all look effortless (while panic-sweating behind the counter).
Small Biz, Big Feels
Our friends and family showed up in full force, from near and far! People stopped in, took photos, gave amazing feedback, and genuinely got what we were doing. One person said, “well you've basically given an open invitation to share our stories, so I'll tell you mine...”, and proceeded to tell us about what she'd been through recently and exactly why she needed this exact bud vase that felt like it had been made for her - she cried, I cried. I cried a lot actually (happy and sad tears). But so many of you opened up to us about your experiences, told us your stories and how my art resonated with you.
Was it worth it?
Abso-fucking-lutely babe.
Would we do it again?
We actually are... In fact, the next one’s coming up in just 25 days (yes, it just took me this long to write about it), and this time we're so excited to have El from Trinket & Trove joining us for the full moon-fuelled trifecta.
More on this soon in Part 2, where I’ll share what sold best, what we’re doing differently this time, and the (minor) detail of a manifested celebrity visit…
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