Tucked away in a delightfully pink and whimsical space, The Kittens Emporium is proving that independent businesses can thrive when creativity and community come together.
Owned by Kitty Skye, the shop is home to more than 25 small businesses down George Yard in Unit C, all operating under one roof and offering customers a unique shopping experience packed with handmade gifts, jewellery, clothing, crystals, décor and more.
Kitty’s journey into retail began during lockdown when she started making jewellery from home. Like many small creators, she initially turned to Etsy to sell her products, but found the platform increasingly difficult to navigate.
“I started in lockdown making jewellery and then really struggled with finding somewhere to sell,” she explained. “Etsy wasn’t great for me because of the drop shipping and all the strikes happened and it became a bit of a mess.”
Determined to find a better way forward, Kitty began looking for physical retail opportunities and eventually found herself working in a small independent shop while continuing to attend markets and craft fairs alongside her husband, Adam.
However, after years of loading up stalls and spending long days at events, Kitty realised she wanted something more permanent.
“Markets became exhausting,” she said. “You stand there for six hours, make £2, then have to pack everything away afterwards. I just thought there had to be another way.”
Drawing on the contacts she had built through running her own markets and working with other local traders, Kitty came up with the idea of creating a collaborative retail space where multiple independent businesses could showcase their products together.
After five months dealing with solicitors and paperwork, The Kittens Emporium officially opened its doors — and Kitty says the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Inside the shop, visitors will find products from a wide range of independent makers and creators. Kitty herself runs several brands, including jewellery, crystal and décor collections, while Adam handcrafts musical instruments and Kitty’s father-in-law creates bird houses and feeders.
The rest of the space is filled by fellow small businesses, each bringing their own personality and products into the mix.
“It’s kind of like a gift fair under one roof,” Kitty said. “We’ve got clothing, gifts, homeware and lots more. We’re all individual small businesses grouping together to make it happen.”
Originally from Basingstoke, Kitty says she instantly fell in love with the Andover premises the moment she stepped inside.
“I walked in and said to the agent, ‘If it’s still pink inside, it’s mine.’ And he said, ‘It’s still pink.’ I just knew.”
Kitty now travels into Andover throughout the week, running the shop alongside Adam, who joins her at weekends.
Although The Kittens Emporium does not yet have a dedicated website, customers can still keep up with the business through social media on Facebook and Instagram.
And for anyone who has yet to discover the shop, Kitty has a simple message.
“Come on in,” she said. “The energy in here is great. It’s whimsical — and we need more whimsy in our lives.”