Next up on my new Stockist Spotlight feature is Harbour Lane based in South Queensferry. The Studio is owned by Tori Gray who is an artist/illustrator and maker herself, with her own range of home wares under the brand Harbour Lane Home. As well as designing her own work in the studio Tori also stocks a whole host of UK indie brands, and is the perfect stop for cards, prints, jewellery, handmade soaps, (SCARVES!) and so much more. Also, if you don’t already follow Tori on Instagram I highly recommend you get that sorted, her updates on day to day shop life are very entertaining!
1. Tell us about Harbour Lane Studios – what’s the story behind why you set up shop
Well, the shop kinda happened by accident. It was never the dream to have a shop or anything and to be honest I was terrified as I felt like to start a shop, you’d need a business degree or something and I’m not sure my Art Degree qualified me! But I hated my job working in a high street retail store and was really miserable so with the support of my boyfriend and my parents I quit and moved home to try and work out what I was going to do with myself. Since I was living back at home, I was looking for some studio space locally. I didn’t have a plan but I just wanted to be creative again. When I heard the space on Harbour Lane was available, I jumped at the chance to take it on but it was way too big for just me. So I dropped some emails to the people I knew from uni that were still making it’s grown from there!
2. What can customers expect to find in Harbour Lane? What sort of products make you excited to sell?
When I first opened, I only stocked work by artist’s and makers based in Scotland but as we grew, so did our social media network and I discovered and fell in love with work by makers based from elsewhere in the UK. It seemed crazy to deny myself and my customers of amazing work just because of location so I changed the rules! We now stock work from over 70 makers in a range of products from greetings cards, to art prints, jewellery and homeware. I’m a bit of a self confessed shopaholic so I get excited about new work ALL the time. I only stock pieces that I really LOVE so I get excited about everything that arrives in the shop!
3. What’s the best thing about being a shop/studio owner?
It’s definitely hard work. Especially since I’m a maker too as it’s like running two businesses but I wouldn’t change it. My passion for supporting artists and makers and independent business has become so important to me. It’s something I strive to do everyday and I am so proud of the fact that my business helps to support the businesses of so many other people!
4. Tell us a funny story or memorable moment from shop life
Although I do have help in the studio in the form of a studio assistant, the majority of the time, it’s just me in the shop. It still makes me giggle when customers come in and tell me about the fact they were in a couple days ago speaking to a girl about lampshades and I’m like… yeah that was me! And they go, ‘are you sure?’ and I’m like, Yup this is my shop! Haha Apparently my ‘look’ changes a lot!
5. Your shop/studio is in South Queensferry – describe a perfect afternoon visit Harbour Lane and your top tips for visiting the area
Well obviously it’s tough at the moment as everywhere is closed but we are very lucky in the fact that the High Street in South Queensferry is home to so many independent businesses. So you can get the train or park at the Hawes Pier which is right under the famous Rail Bridge, then walk all the way along the high street stopping to get coffee in a choice of indie coffee shops or an ice cream in one of the ice cream parlours. You can shop in fashion boutiques, antique stores and bakeries, visit our museum or stay in one of the hotels or b&bs. There is a choice of restaurants and pubs and you can get your hair done too! Then of course visit Harbour Lane and every single business you’ll have gone into will have been independently run! I think that’s pretty damn cool.
6. Do you have a favourite scarf of ours? Why did you pick this one?
Without doubt, my favourite Helen Ruth Scarf is ‘Voyage’. I am a sucker for anything nautical or sea-themed and I just love the story behind it. I’m just looking for the perfect excuse to treat myself!
7. Any news or plans to share? – Can be a small thing, think we need to celebrate the small wins during this testing time!
Well we are extending the shop so that I can squeeze in a whole lot of new work and makers but it’s taking forever and everything is on hold with that at the moment. All this bonus ‘time off’ has allowed me to do a lot of drawing though so I will be launching a brand new collection soon which I am very excited about!!
Hope you enjoyed learning all about my lovely stockist in South Queensferry. You can find Harbour Lane at;
@Harbour.Lane on Instagram
Harbour Lane Studio on Facebook
All photos are copyright of Harbour Lane Studio
