From the multicoloured dungarees to vibrant prints and sequin-emblazoned jewellery, walking into CoLab, an independent retailer on Bristol’s Gloucester Road, you are met with an explosion of colour.
Inside, you discover an eclectic mix of clothing, jewellery, art, crafts and gifts, sourced from more than 60 independent designers and makers from Bristol and beyond.
Andrea Mahoney, who previously worked as a project coordinator at festivals, took over CoLab in 2018 after the original owner relocated to New Zealand. “I always had this romantic vision of running my own shop, just like my grandmother did,” she says. “I’m passionate about celebrating local makers and wanted to create a destination that combined my Caribbean heritage with the notion of Bristol as a colourful and vibrant place with a party atmosphere.”
The shop has been going strong since 2011 and celebrating local has been at its heart. Mahoney has brought a new vibe and a “mishmash of culture”, as she describes it. The beautiful Ashanti Empress Colour me Crazy clothing that she stocks is an example of this. The ethical African fashion brand is based in Ghana and Bristol, with the clothes made in Ghana and then finished locally in Bristol, with a percentage of profits going directly to Ghanaian families.
“I get such a buzz from phoning my stockists and telling them when something is selling well. Each stockist has made something with love and I want to sell it with the same love. It’s very much a partnership. I know every single one of my suppliers personally,” says Mahoney.
CoLab benefits from a loyal customer base. There are students who pop in to buy the popular “Gangster Wraps” hoop earrings, made from vintage fabric, or a print for their new flat. The 35-plus crowd love the quirky homewares, such as the neon cactus cosy plant pot holders.
Like many local retailers, Mahoney is particularly excited about the run-up to Christmas. “It is peak trading time for us and we have so many goodies in the shop that make great presents,” she says. “It’s really important to me that our customers feel especially welcome at this time of year and are comfortable browsing for as long as they want.”
Music from local artists will add to the atmosphere, as well as mulled wine for adults and golden chocolate coins for any kids who pop in.
An important date in the calendar is the CoLab Christmas party, a truly community event. “We have an annual cheese and cider party, all sourced from local suppliers. Our stockists, customers and the local community are all invited.”
Illustration: Guardian Design
As a community hub, CoLab hosts open-mic nights and has co-working spaces
Connecting with the community is really important to Mahoney. The shop holds monthly open-mic nights for local performers and has a brightly coloured co-working space above the shop where small businesses can rent desk space.
“CoLab is about celebrating the local community,” says Mahoney. “It’s a shop but people also use the space like it is their living room and I love that. It’s a place to hang out and be around beautiful things.”
Shop local this Christmas
This ability to turn a shop into a space where people feel welcome enough to make the space their own is something that should be celebrated. And Visa is intent on doing that this December. It is celebrating the British high street and encouraging everyone to shop locally at small, independent retailers in the run-up to Christmas. Visa wants to remind people #WhereYouShopMatters, to encourage shoppers to visit retailers like CoLab to buy Christmas gifts, helping them to thrive and re-energising local high streets at the same time.
“Initiatives like this give businesses like mine a collective voice; visiting local shops makes so much difference to so many people,” says Mahoney. “There are so many retailers like me working hard to make every British high street a destination that offers a truly personal service to every customer. And if our high streets are thriving and busy, it means they will remain the heart of our community.”
Indeed, in a recent survey from Visa, two-thirds of UK consumers said that visiting the high street gave them a sense of community as well as making them feel good about where their money is going. Eight in 10 also either agreed or strongly agreed that a thriving high street made villages and towns much more appealing destinations to visit.
With British consumers spending nearly £500 on Christmas presents every year, according to voucher company RetailMeNot, Visa recognises that this is a particularly important trading time for local shops.
“We work tirelessly on our Christmas stock to create truly unique and interesting offerings,” says Mahoney. “But like many shops, of course we always need more customers to pop in and support us. There is something so special and personal about supporting local retailers when you buy your Christmas presents.”
Mahoney is also passionate about celebrating other local businesses in Bristol, to encourage even more people to visit the high street and make it the “destination” it needs to be.
Here are three shops where Mahoney will be doing her Christmas shopping this year:
Blaze
This co-op and gift shop near to the aptly named Christmas Steps is run by Bristol-based artists and sells gifts from more than 100 local makers. Expect stationery, glassware, ceramics, jewellery and beyond.
84 Colston Street, BS1 5BB
That Thing
Nestled in trendy Stokes Croft, this treasure trove of a shop is a destination for affordable luxury homeware, street wear, vintage clothing and lifestyle products.
45-47 Stokes Croft, BS1 3QP
Upfest Gallery
Bristol has become famous for street art and this urban art gallery offers a wide selection of illustration and contemporary artwork alongside limited-run artist T-shirts, gifts and street art, graffiti and books on Bristol.
198 North Street, BS3 1JF
Show your high street some love
Why not seek out the personal touch with your Christmas shopping this year and join Visa in supporting local independent businesses across the country because #WhereYouShopMatters
