30 years in retail: a shopkeeper's tale - part one
My Shopkeeper Story
It occurred to me this week (with some astonishment) that 2025 marks my 30th year in retail, so I thought that it would be fun to reflect, and give my lovely readers a little insight into the journey of Happy & Glorious so far...
At 17, I was a nervous, shy A-level student when I applied for a part-time job in an independent gift shop in Cranbrook, Kent. It was my first real job (aside from babysitting and very occasional fruit-picking on my family's farm), and whilst I was relaxed and confident amongst those I knew, I was absolutely terrified of talking to other people.
At college, I ate my lunch at the back of the library, reading autobiographies, flicking through art and craft books, and enjoying classic literature. On an A Level trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, when the rest of the English Literature group went off to do cool teenager-y things, I cheerfully donned my double-denim and went to every Shakespeare-related property in the town by myself. Perish the thought that I should spend time with other humans!
Being a Shakespeare tourist in 1995. My literary ambitions were so lofty that I even purchased a quill at Anne Hathaway's cottage.
I was too late for the Saturday job, but was given a few hours on a Wednesday afternoon when most other shops in the town were closed. It was incredibly quiet, and in between customers, I would read Penguin Classics, picked up from the local bookshop for 99p.
I still remember my hands shaking as I served my first customer, fumbling with the old credit card swiper and trying not to trap my sleeve in the mechanism! But something unexpected happened - not only did I learn to talk to people (even to the point of actually enjoying it!), but I also fell in love with the world of independent retail.
Learning the Ropes
My first experience of a Christmas rush hit on 1st October 1995 - when people shopped much earlier in the year, before internet shopping changed everything. That season taught me two crucial lessons: how to manage my adrenaline and how to embrace the famous swan analogy - gliding effortlessly on the surface whilst paddling wildly beneath.
Early attempts at visual merchandising taught me another important skill: trusting my instincts. I learned to keep tweaking displays until they felt complete—because if something felt wrong, it probably was. I'm still not sure if this is something that everyone experiences, but when you get that feeling, it's a little bit of magic.
One of my first window displays, probably around 1996. I was absolutely terrified to install them, but loved the process too.
I learned to think on my feet—while standing on them all day. I learned to handle tricky situations, to embrace the unpredictability of retail, and to gift-wrap while standing on one leg (!). But above all, I discovered the joy of camaraderie, surrounded by a team of truly lovely people.
I remember exactly where I was in that shop - walking upstairs to the stockroom for lunch - when at 17 years old, I felt a rush of contentment. In that moment, I knew that I had found my place in the world, and my plan for the future.
Those early experiences planted the seed for what would one day become Happy & Glorious.
Coming up next...
This is just the beginning of my shopkeeper story. In the next installment, I’ll be sharing more about the inspiration behind H&G, and its slightly chaotic beginnings...
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you—what was your first job and how do you feel that it shaped you? Or do you remember me as a terrified teenager, finding her wings through a love of retail? Share your thoughts in the comments below!