The fact that few of us are likely to be venturing beyond UK shores this year for our holidays (what are they?!) should signal a bonanza time for retailers located in UK hotspots.
Ditching its passport, PG Buzz ventured to the Kent port town to find out how Tim Gould, co-owner of Objectables of Folkestone is ready and waiting to welcome the wave of staycationers in his part of the world.
Over to Tim (who co-owns the card and gift shop with his wife Annie) to share his holiday notes…
“We moved here four years ago and it’s become more of a place to visit just over that time, let alone the pandemic causing the growth in non-abroad holidaying. There is also a huge arts festival running through the summer which always brings people in.”
What are you doing to capitalise on the UK holiday mood?
“Locals usually come in for something specific whereas holidaymakers are much more likely to be browsing and looking for something that catches their eye. The whole reason The Old High Street, where we are based, is so popular is because it has lots of little independent shops, cafes and bars to explore. People come after having been recommended to visit our shop by other people that have visited. We like to think spending half an hour having a laugh at our idiotic cards is part of the day trip activity list. The guy who does the town tours often stops his tour outside our shop so his customers can ready our funny cards in our window!
We always try and support local card makers anyway but we have just started our first licensed range of art cards and one of our first artists is local so we are hoping to hire another space in the summer to curate an exhibition of these works.
Being a publisher ourselves we are always experimenting with cards themed around the town. Having been popular before, we are just relaunching our own postcards which are our own take on our home town.”
What would be your ‘must visit’ tip for those visiting
“The Folkestone Triennial commissions large scale outdoor permanent works of art which are situated throughout the town. Consequently, the town has become host to one of the largest permanent outdoor art exhibitions in the world. You can spend a day wondering round following sculpture trails or coming across works by Tracy Emin or Anthony Gormley just by luck. And, at the end of the day you can enjoy a glass of champagne outside the champagne bar in the lighthouse at the end of the Harbour Arm, a promenade that just out half a kilometre into the sea.”
If there was a magic carpet waiting (and no pandemic) where would you want to go?
“First of all, San Francisco then Thailand because my wife’s two best friends live there and she really misses them and that would make her happy, which would make me happy!”
Top: Tim Gould in octopus mode.
