Opening a Gift Shop in Rural Northumberland During Lockdown
The Olive & Myrtle Story | Bellingham, Northumberland
If someone had told me I’d open an independent gift shop in rural Northumberland just weeks before a global lockdown… I might have laughed.
Or perhaps I wouldn’t.
Because taking risks has always been part of my story.
From Laboratory Job to Market Stall in Newcastle
At 24, I left my job in a laboratory.
It was secure. Sensible. Predictable.
But creativity was calling louder.
I had started making polymer clay jewellery in the evenings, slowly building confidence in my designs. I booked a pitch at a Sunday market in Newcastle with one pasting table and a hopeful heart.
That single table was the beginning of everything.
Those early days taught me resilience. Cold mornings. Long hours. Learning how to speak to customers. Figuring out pricing. Making mistakes and adjusting.
I didn’t have a grand business plan. I just kept showing up.
Growing from One Table to a Travelling Pop-Up
Over time, that single table grew into a full walk-in pop-up stall. Display walls. Proper lighting. Careful merchandising. Branding that reflected my evolving style.
For years I travelled to markets and music festivals across the UK. Muddy fields. Windy coastal towns. Beautiful summer weekends. Hard lessons in British weather.
I reinvested every spare penny back into the business.
I travelled to India to source textiles and carefully chosen pieces to complement my handmade jewellery. I was building something layered - a collection of artisan pieces with story and soul.
And I was still making my jewellery by hand.
The Shop Opportunity in Bellingham, Northumberland
Then a shop became available in Bellingham - my nearest village here in rural Northumberland.
It felt like a huge leap.
The offer was to rent initially, with the opportunity to buy in the future. It felt aligned. Terrifying. Right.
I signed the lease in February 2020.
By the end of March 2020, the UK was in lockdown.
Opening an Independent Gift Shop During a Global Pandemic
The doors of Olive & Myrtle hadn't even opened yet before they had to close.
There is no handbook for running a small business during a pandemic. Especially not an independent gift shop in Northumberland reliant on both local customers and tourism.
So I adapted.
I focused on building the website properly. I learned more about e-commerce, SEO and online retail than I ever expected to. I packed online orders at home. I navigated uncertainty daily.
It was overwhelming at times.
But something remarkable happened.
Customers chose to support independent shops in Northumberland. Locals in Bellingham rallied around small businesses. Online customers discovered us and kept ordering.
That support carried us through.
Building Olive & Myrtle in Rural Northumberland
Since those early lockdown days, Olive & Myrtle has grown steadily and sustainably.
I still wear every hat:
-
Sourcing and buying
-
Website management
-
Online orders
-
Social media
-
Admin and accounts
-
Events
-
Window displays
My mum, Gilly (our original Myrtle), works shifts in the shop and has been by my side from the beginning. And now Liz, our wonderful team member, helps during busy periods and allows us to occasionally step away - something that once felt impossible.
We’ve built more than just a shop in Bellingham.
We’ve built a space where visitors to Northumberland can find:
-
Artisan gifts
-
Beautiful homeware
-
Handmade jewellery
-
Thoughtful cards
-
Pieces with meaning
Why Independent Gift Shops Matter in Northumberland
Rural Northumberland is special. Slower. Wilder. Community-focused.
Independent shops here aren’t just retail spaces - they’re part of the fabric of village life.
When you shop local in Northumberland, you support real families, real livelihoods and real creativity.
Olive & Myrtle exists because people believe in that.
Looking Ahead
The vision for the future is simple:
To grow thoughtfully.
To create more local employment.
To continue supporting small makers and artists.
To keep filling homes with beautiful, considered things.
To keep meeting people from all over the world who stumble upon Bellingham and discover us.
Opening a gift shop in rural Northumberland during a global pandemic wasn’t the easy path.
But resilience has always been part of the journey.
And sometimes, when you take the leap - even in uncertain times - something wonderful grows.
Visit Olive & Myrtle in Bellingham, Northumberland
If you’re visiting Bellingham or exploring rural Northumberland, we’d love to welcome you into Olive & Myrtle.
And if you’re further afield, you can browse our collection of artisan gifts and greetings cards online.
Independent. Rural. Resilient.
That’s our story.