Tea & Chat Interview with Keep in Local Events

Hello! Great to have you here, the kettle’s just boiled – what would you like to drink?

Decaf anything please or a fruit tea would be lovely if you have it thanks.

So, tell us a bit about yourself and your business.

My name’s Anne Marriner and I left a successful career in the construction industry about five years ago to start concentrating on selling my hallmarked silver jewellery. I’m married to Andrew and we have a son and daughter in their thirties whom we love to bits.

What inspired you to start your creative business? How did it all begin?

A love of design and metalworking (I was an only child and made steam engines in the garage with my Dad as a teenager) inspired me to make silver jewellery some years ago.

I used to sell at several craft events and was sometimes disappointed at the low visitor numbers and the standard of work on offer. I thought “I can do better than this”. So in 2012 I started organising a small event at Coolings Nurseries in their Lecture room which held around 15 stalls.

I quickly realised I had a steep learning curve, but now feel a lot more confidence in my ability to organise an outstanding sales opportunity for my crafting friends.

How has your business changed and developed since it started?

In 2013 I organised more events in different locations and my daughter, Sally, started to help in a casual way. The Coolings events grew in size as the management there discovered how footfall and turnover increased on the days when we were present.

They hired us marquee space in 2013 and in 2014, completed a purpose-built event glasshouse and our visitor numbers quadrupled in number. They also invited us to organise their failing Farmer’s Market on the back of the success of our craft sales. At this point I became too busy for my own good and Sally officially joined the business. I love working with her.

So, where does all this take place? What’s your workspace like?

I have a cellar in my house where I make my silver jewellery and where I spend hours at my computer marketing and record keeping for our Keep it Local events.

It’s very pleasant as there is a window and fully glazed door overlooking my garden where I can watch the birds coming and going – I’ve counted 24 species so far. Sally looks after the stallholder contact side of things and I manage the venue liaison, accounts and marketing.

What are the best and worst bits of running your business?

Without a doubt the people we’ve met are the very best part of our business….and having access to their wonderful crafts and food is a bonus!

There’s always someone new to meet and something thing new to see, whether it’s a new piece from our existing pool of crafters or a new stallholder who we are welcoming for their first ever event!

Our worst times are when we have disappointing visitor numbers – and it does happen sometimes for no apparent reason.

We also have a reputation for cooking our stallholders! On Midsummers Day in June last year we held an event in the half-completed glasshouse. Boy, was it hot! But I’m glad to say Coolings have now installed much more ventilation and shading, so we’re once more looking forward to some good weather instead of praying for rain!

What are your hopes, plans or ambitions for the future?

I enjoy working with Sally in something which I hope will become a family business as it grows organically over the years. We’re always looking for new venues and crafters to keep our offering fresh and interesting for our regular visitors.

Finally, where can we find you online if we want to keep in touch?

Sally looks after Twitter and Facebook. She’s enjoys the banter and we quickly agreed that she is much better at it than I am! I look after the rest of our marketing activities including our website.

Thanks so much for your time and chatting to you about your business!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity – and the coffee! It’s been a lovely morning!

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