Along with its picturesque setting, eclectic high street and outstanding coastline, Falmouth is continually inspiring a new generation of female design, makers and retailers.
Featured regularly by the Sunday Times as a perennial Best Place to Live and winner of the best Coastal Community at the Great British High Street Awards, the Cornish town boasts over 200 independent outlets within three square miles and is buoyed by around 750,000 visitors each year.
The success of the creative enterprises in this entrepreneurial ‘port with a purpose’, lie in the year-round business opportunities that are being carved out by a new wave of innovative owners.
This diversity of consumer options as well as its compelling location, vibrant year-round festivals programme and support from an award-winning Town Management Team, has attracted an impressive portfolio of quality driven business owners.
Willow & Stone, brainchild of Sarah Willshaw, perfectly fits this mould. Situated on Falmouth’s Arwenack Street, the shop sources and sells door furniture, period fittings and traditional quality products, as well as beautiful stationery and homewares, all complementing its burgeoning e-commerce site.
Owner Sarah said: “I did my degree in Falmouth and moved to London after graduation in the late 90s. However, it really wasn’t where I wanted to make home and I returned to Falmouth with lots of experience as soon as I could come up with a business idea.
"It’s a cosmopolitan town and we have all sorts of people here from all over the world thanks to the docks, the university and the tourist industry. The high-street is a friendly, supportive place and we’re really proud of the fact that we have a huge selection of independent shops, amazing food outlets and creative businesses.
"Success here comes from staying true to your core values, listening to your customers and above all offering amazing customer service. We also have our website, which means that we can reach a worldwide audience, even during the quiet months. I really wouldn’t want to do business anywhere else.”
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The company ethos encourages all employees to choose between part-time or full-time so they can build and nurture their own projects in addition to their hours at the shop.
Meanwhile, there’s an equally creative buzz just down the road at Cream Cornwall. Co-owners Rebecca Heane and Allison Hughes design and create all of their patterns and products from their studio above their flagship shop in Falmouth. Here, they take inspiration from the heritage, colours and coastline of Cornwall.
Rebecca Heane, co-owner of Cream Cornwall, said: “I grew up in Falmouth and after living in Australia for many years I chose to return and set up this business together with Allison.
"Since then, we’ve been on this amazing adventure together and have grown our business in ways we wouldn’t have imagined back when we started. Our shops in Falmouth and St Ives are doing very well and we are beyond excited about the future of Cream Cornwall.”
The brand was born from a desire to share what they have on their doorstep; the colours of Cornwall, it's ever changing skies, wild and rugged coastline, sandy coves and sheltered creeks. A recently opened second store in St Ives, another in the pipeline and a strong online business is proof that Cornwall is a place where business can flourish.
Allison Hughes, co-owner of Cream Cornwall, said: “Falmouth is such an interesting place to live because it’s not as seasonal as many other seaside towns. The town and its surroundings influence everything in our creative process and this is reflected within our designs.
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"We also have, without doubt, the best office view in the world overlooking the historical marina and the maritime industry. It’s not just about tourists; it’s about the people who live, work and goes to university here. This makes it a truly vibrant place.”
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Tucked away in a historic cobbled courtyard that once housed a brewery, Toro Studio is the scenic home of handmade ceramics, botanical wares and musings.
This house and indoor plant specialist is run by Tor Harrison, who passionately shares her green-fingered wisdom with her customers. In addition, Toro offers a plant styling and consultation service, specialising in hospitality and commercial spaces, working with local designers and makers to create bespoke planters.
Tor Harrison, owner of Toro Studios, said: “The Cornish landscape really fuels my creativity. I have always loved working with and being surrounded by plants and my shop is a small, calming oasis in the centre of Falmouth, bursting with greenery.
"It's always a pleasure to chat with customers, swap botanical stories and share any horticultural advice that I can. Bringing plants into our work spaces and homes can powerfully transform the dynamics and mood of a space, bringing life, vitality, colour and scent, which in turn have a positive effect on us."
Richard Wilcox, Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) Manager, said: “There are reasons that Falmouth is regularly featured by the Sunday Times as a perennial Best Place to Live and winner of the best Coastal Community at the Great British High Street Awards, and one key one is because we’re a vibrant, entrepreneurial town with a proactive and passionate business community.
"Falmouth boasts over 200 independent outlets within three square miles and is buoyed by around 750,000 visitors each year. The success of the creative enterprises in our innovative ‘port with a purpose’ lies in the year-round opportunities that are being carved out by a new wave of businesses who make our high street a special and diverse place.”
All three businesses have specifically chosen Falmouth as the critical location and home for their careful propositions following careers and travels that have taken them all over the globe.