If determination and passion guaranteed success then I have no doubt that The Sandgate Trading Co will be a resounding retail triumph. Its proprietor, Nikki Wilson, has been planning the venture since she and her husband Paul returned to Sandgate two years ago and she has found inspiration in the seaside village they love.

From her workroom at the back, Nikki crafts and fashions most of the items she sells in the shop from serendipitous finds on the beach and surrounding woodlands. Others she buys in but their eco credentials are scrutinised and wherever possible she buys from British sources. All are displayed in two rooms whose interior design reflects the creative nature of the owner.

Whether it’s a long planned anniversary or a last minute panic, The Sandgate Trading Co will probably have the answer. Arts and craft, furniture, lotions and potions, candles, jewellery and retro vintage items can all be found in this veritable haven by the sea. The greetings cards are made from sustainable sources and her fascinating carrier bags have been constructed from recycled newspapers.

“I first tested the demand for my products at the twice monthly Farmers’ Market held at the Chichester Memorial Hall” said Nikki, “and the result convinced me that there was a need for such a shop in Sandgate”. I asked Nikki how will she know if her hopes and aspirations are realised and she replied, “It will be when The Sandgate Trading Co becomes a relevant part of the Sandgate community”. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?

Review by David Cowell

The Sandgate Trading Co can be found at 78 Sandgate High Street. Sandgate, Kent CT20 3BX

Contact details:

Nikki Wilson

01303 226610

Email: wnikkiwilson@hotmail.co.uk

David Cowell

01303 257022

email: david@davidcowell.net

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If determination and passion guaranteed success then I have no doubt that The Sandgate Trading Co will be a resounding retail triumph. Its proprietor, Nikki Wilson, has been planning the venture since she and her husband Paul returned to Sandgate two years ago and she has found inspiration in the seaside village they love.

From her workroom at the back, Nikki crafts and fashions most of the items she sells in the shop from serendipitous finds on the beach and surrounding woodlands. Others she buys in but their eco credentials are scrutinised and wherever possible she buys from British sources. All are displayed in two rooms whose interior design reflects the creative nature of the owner.

Whether it’s a long planned anniversary or a last minute panic, The Sandgate Trading Co will probably have the answer. Arts and craft, furniture, lotions and potions, candles, jewellery and retro vintage items can all be found in this veritable haven by the sea. The greetings cards are made from sustainable sources and her fascinating carrier bags have been constructed from recycled newspapers.

“I first tested the demand for my products at the twice monthly Farmers’ Market held at the Chichester Memorial Hall” said Nikki, “and the result convinced me that there was a need for such a shop in Sandgate”. I asked Nikki how will she know if her hopes and aspirations are realised and she replied, “It will be when The Sandgate Trading Co becomes a relevant part of the Sandgate community”. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?

Review by David Cowell

The Sandgate Trading Co can be found at 78 Sandgate High Street. Sandgate, Kent CT20 3BX

Contact details:

Nikki Wilson

01303 226610

Email: wnikkiwilson@hotmail.co.uk

David Cowell

01303 257022

email: david@davidcowell.net

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Kent’t New Military History Shop “Still in the trenches’ opens in Folkestone Old High Steet during May and already word is spreading about this new shop and trade is beginning to build.

Walking up the Old High Street from the Harbour I came across a new business which only recently opened its doors to the public. ‘Still in the trenches’ has a significant collection of: medals, badges, trench art, helmets, uniforms, gas masks. edged weapons, de-activated firarms, inert grendades, intert ordnance, flags, books, aviation items, webbingk photos, documentation, postcards and military models for sale - in fact more than enough for anyone interested in military paraphanalia.

I popped my head into the shop where there were several people browsing through the artefacts and I stood chatting for a while to the proprietor who told me that the shop had only been opened a few weeks but already he was seeing a steady stream of people popping in to look and buy various items. Over the coming months he also intends to run some events locally for people interested in military history and paraphenalia.

With our close proximity to the coast I am sure this shop will do very well - as interest grows in the rich military history of the area especially as various local projects start to gather steam such as the Step Short project and the Shorncliffe Redoubt project which is a little further down the timeline.

www.stillinthetrenches.com

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The business group on Sandgate’s Parish Plan and Design Statement Committee (www.sandgatesay.co.uk) want to improve communications between businesses and other groups in Sandgate.

The Sandgate Business Group is not part of Sandgate Parish Council (http://www.sandgatepc.kentparishes.gov.uk/), but will work closely with councillors and the clerk along with other interest groups to ensure the widest possible communication with and between our businesses.

Any business based in Sandgate, Kent is welcome to join the Sandgate Business Group - if you would like to join this group go to: http://sandgatebusiness.org.uk/

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Image by kozika via Flickr

Mr Patrick Butler proprietor of the Sandgate Village Shop and the Enbrook Mail Steering Group have been working together for some months to find how best to bring Mail and Postal Services back to Sandgate. We are pleased to be able to announce that it is agreed these services can be re-established in Sandgate.

During this week the team will be putting the infra structure in place and obtaining equipment etc. to bring a modern Mail and Postal Service back to Sandgate.

The Mail Service will commence on Friday 19th March at 12pm. Open every day from 9am to 5pm.

A donation to help complete this service would be very welcome, there are significant costs involved. Give a contribution to any of the group or pay into The Village Shop, makes cheques payable to ‘Enbrook Mail’ (the Mail Groups bank account).

For further information tel: Mr Patrick Butler 07966 586547.

Steering Group: Roy Brightman 01303 245994, Val Cooney 01303 252662, Colin Hunt and Nick Baker.

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