#ShopLocal has never had more relevance than in the last year. The unprecedented times through lockdowns and all of the restrictions we have faced have helped us to understand and appreciate what is available on our doorstep. The more we can buy at a local level, the more sustainable our communities will be. One shop in Cupar lives and breathes that message: Hidden Gem Gifts on Ladywynd is an independent shop that helps to support more than 50 crafters from across Scotland …

Run by Ken & Alison Frew, the couple originally attended craft fairs travelling all over Scotland selling Alison’s handmade jewellery. The hobby grew into a business and they opened their shop in 2019 – contacting fellow crafters they’d met over the years to see if they’d like to sell their arts and crafts through their new shop.

We ran a blog piece on their business just before lockdowns hit (you can read it via this link) – and over the last 18 months, Hidden Gem Gifts has continued to grow. Alison says: “We now have over 50 different crafters represented in the shop – from all over Scotland.” Customers will find all manner of unique gifts – hand made by passionate crafters not only based in Fife but from Angus, Dundee, Glasgow, the Borders, Perthshire as well as Ross & Cromatry.

When writing this Blog piece, we popped in to see Ken & Alison. It is an Aladdin’s cave of a shop – with so many different gifts on display. We can’t show them all, but we did shoot this short video clip to help convey the huge range and styles they sell …

 

Alison explains: “We sell a wide range of items from various different types of cushions, candles, diffusers, wax melts, shoulder bags, dog walking bags, vegan soaps, shampoo bars, hand creams, body butter and lip balm, bath salts and bath bombs.” You’ll find original artwork, hand painted slate, hand painted pottery including Christmas Trees, gnomes, frogs, money boxes, tea light holders and other quirky ornaments – plus hand painted ceramics including tea pots, mugs, various sizes of jugs, soap dishes, tooth brush holders, egg cups.

The list of collections goes on …

Wooden crafts – from clocks and mushrooms to apples and spurtles as well as small vases, bowls and dishes. You will also find crochet soap bags, face scrubbies, baskets, head bands and pom-pom hats. Decoupage slate coasters and wall hangers, handmade chutney, sea glass and pebble art pictures, lots of different jewellery – including silver, gemstones, fashion, recycled and sea glass. There are fused glass lanterns, sun catchers, tea light holders, coasters, pictures, stained glass hangers – including hearts, birds, angels, Scotland flags, driftwood houses and light houses.

And there’s more! Resin art, mugs, metal hand painted clocks, cards, healing lights made with crystals, gemstones – and airplanes and motorbikes made from recycled drinks cans, hand folded books and wooden signs. Ken adds: “Everything sells well. Some of our most popular items are candles, wax melts, pottery – especially the Christmas Trees, hand painted ceramics, soaps, shampoo bars and the jewellery.” He says: “Most of our customers appreciate the fact that everything is handmade in Scotland and are very enthusiastic about all of the goods that we have.”

So popular is their shop that they now have a waiting list of crafters – and are always being contacted by more. Yet despite their popularity, Alison says that there’s no doubt the last 18 months have been a huge challenge – for all businesses. She says: “It has been a rollercoaster, but our USP of only showcasing and selling crafters work that’s handmade in Scotland has really helped us.” Alison concludes: “We really appreciate the support we have had from our customers from the Cupar area and beyond who have supported us since we opened.”

 

Need more?

Drop Alison a line by email through this link, call them on 01334 208590 – or pop in to see them on Ladywynd.

You can also check them out on CuparClicks, the platform created to help businesses showcase and sell produce online – at home and abroad.

 

 

Thanks for reading!