Sally Matson opens Little Red as Maybugs and UOE Stores also go for new outlets
Red Card has given the green card to expansion as the Petworth indie retailer now has a second shop in the quaint West Sussex market town.
Owner Sally Matson has been hatching plans for Little Red with longstanding Red Card team mate Karen West for the past three years and the new outlet opened just last week a hop, skip and a jump away from the main store’s Golden Square location.
“Red Card currently has around 170 suppliers,” Sally said, “it’s very much a card shop with gifts. But, having seen such beautiful gifts while we’ve been travelling, visiting other shops and going to trade shows, we decided we wanted to open another shop where we could offer full ranges of our favourite products, rather than just small capsules.
“So, the idea for Little Red was born – and it currently has just 14 of our favourite brands. Red Card is 1,000sq ft in a purpose-built retail space, the new shop is just 500sq ft in a beautiful listed period building in Lombard Street.
“We wanted to create a connection between the two shops so we liked the name Little Red. The robin logo came about because my husband Paul is a keen birdwatcher and one of my daughters likes to draw birds, and we thought that Little Red… robin was quite fun.”
With business partner Steve Howe, who also runs Petworth Bookshop, Sally has run Red Card since 2011 and is a well-respected indie retailer always willing to share her thoughts and expertise, speaking at Ladder Club seminars and as a judge for The Henries Awards as well as Gift Of The Year.
And she’s used her experience to ensure Little Red offers something different with a unique layout to the store as well as buying a monogramming machine to offer personalisation on notebooks and leather goods.
“I’ve always been keen on having one of these machines,” Sally laughed, “but I know our customers will like it too! It’s something unique in Petworth.”
Sally’s not the only indie to get the expansion bug as Maybugs is due to open its fourth store in Royal Tunbridge Wells in November, while UOE Stores now has eight outlets.
The mix of gifts, greeting cards and lifestyle has proved a winner for Maybugs owners John Dale and Greg Rose, with a number of awards under their belts including The Greats 2024 Best Retailer Initiative category earlier this year.
And the latest location will join their Bexhill-On-Sea, Eastbourne and Hailsham outlets, as sales director John explained: “For Maybugs to be expanding out of our Sussex base into Kent is a huge milestone for us.
“In just six years we’ve built and expanded the business to create a retail brand – a sign of our ambitions opening programme to expand the Maybugs brand and ethos over the next few years. We know locals are going to love what we have to offer, as what we do and the way in which we present it is quite different to any other retailer in the town.”
Managing director Greg added: “We’ve been hunting for the right premises in Tunbridge Wells for two years and are thrilled to finally be open in time for Christmas.
“One of the cornerstones of the Maybugs business is that we’re more than just a shop. We aim to become a community champion in each of the communities where we have stores, and part of this is supporting local community projects and charitable causes.”
Also expanding out of its North London and Herts heartland is UOE Stores, where CEO and postmaster Elliot Jacobs – one of the four finalists in this year’s BOSS Awards independent retailer category – has brought 1st Stop Stationers in Reigate into his portfolio of post offices alongside an extensive selection of stationery, packaging, greetings cards, crafting and design-led gifts.
The Surrey shop joins the East Finchley, Potters Bar, Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Hertford, Stoke Newington and Ware locations. As Elliot said: “As we continue expanding our network, this marks another step in our commitment to serving local communities with outstanding stationery and post office services.
“A warm welcome to the 1st Stop Stationers team and customers. We’re excited to bring you the very best in products and service while maintaining the familiar, friendly atmosphere you’ve come to love.”
