Living in such a beautiful part of northern France is inspiring says Eve. She loves photography and the local scenery and her home and garden provide the perfect subject matter and backdrop for her store. She travels all over France and Western Europe for her stock, English and French vintage and antique items that she sells on Etsy. Her grandfather was a huge influence, who taughtt her how to hang art in his gallery is Fisherhude, Germany, "he always had something to say about how I could make things better; I don't recall ever getting any praise from him! He also taught me his basic trading secrets which I still live by to this day. Nuggets of wisdom about “the trade” which I will pass on to my daughter”.
Online business in France
Eve stocks a wide variety of items anything from decor, art, kitchen ware, farming tools to unique one of a kind finds. Her customers are hotels, photographers, interior design firms, collectors and people looking for that 'particular' gift. “I love my job it really combines all of my passions” says Eve, and she has found that the abundance of flea markets and places to buy second hand and vintage items in France really helps her to source goods for her online shop.
She also designs and makes unique bags that often have a French theme and that she sells around the world.
Stephen is the business brain behind their outfit, an ex-teacher of business and IT, “he does the forecasts and pricing and everything that involves logic, the written word and muscle”.
Eve says that social media has proved an excellent tool for promoting their business and it's easy to manage from their house in the middle of nowhere: “Instagram is my new addiction and I am on it constantly” laughs Eve.
Eve needed more work space and created it by purchaing a "cheap shed" in her local Brico Depot store - it works "perfectly"