From Market Stalls to a Coastal Treasure Trove: The Journey of Three Little Pigs
Three Little Pigs first started life as a little pop up market stall selling restored vintage children's nursery furniture & accessories. I had a regular spot at a weekly flea market in the centre of Cardiff and occasionally, with two very small children & partner in toe, we'd trade at vintage festivals and larger monthly flea markets further afield. This time was fun. Riding around in an old beaten up bright orange transit van, 3 in a row up front. My two boys were only 3 & 4 back then and now 13 & 14 this is still one of their favourite memories - perhaps because of the delicious and huge blueberry muffin they used to be promised each week from the baker on the market stall opposite to mine.
Fast forward another couple of years and much to our surprise but sheer delight, our beautiful daughter Wren arrived. With the boys both at full time school, Wren and I hit the road most weeks, in the now very unreliable orange van, out searching for the next pieces of unloved furniture to restore. As fun as this sounds, it was hard. We were tired from the sleepless nights and Wren got quite fed up with me restoring the pieces whilst she watched - totally understandable. It was time for a rethink!
After much deliberating and searching I came across a wonderful company who hand built sustainable furniture in India. Their ethics matched exactly my own and the beautifully made furniture had a very vintage, Mid Century design look to it - it was a match made in heaven! This is the point where Three Little Pigs became an online retailer. The orange van was sadly sold, (we still miss it) and my market days were becoming a distant memory. In hindsight this was a blessing with lockdown just around the corner in which during this time the online business flourished and grew to incorporate a selection of homewares.
In 2021 we made the move from the city to the coast. Settling in a beautiful village just outside of Cardigan, West Wales. We were instantly in love with our new surroundings. Website sales still continued although at a much lower level that the previous 2 years of lockdown. I was very keen to integrate my business into our new community and saw a gap for a retail shop just like my online store. It had always been my dream to have my very own store and I’d spent years fantasising about how it would look and what products I would stock. On the 6th January 2023 my dream came true and I collected the keys for my very first bricks and mortar store.
I couldn’t quite get over that the venture I had imagined for the past 2 decades was finally going to become a reality. However, celebrations were quickly cut short when the following week, on Friday 13th nonetheless, my world came crashing down. It was on this day that I was first told I most likely had Breast Cancer only to be confirmed just a few days later.
My dream had to be put on hold whilst I dealt with the blow I had been given. It was a tough 10 months in the end of surgeries and treatment but when I finally opened those doors and the first few customers came to look at the treasures inside I was filled with pride and joy of just how far I had come.
Three Little Pigs Homestore has been my absolute saviour and I wanted more than anything to make it a place of good. I had always vowed that when the time was right I would try to support as many other small businesses as I could, especially female founded UK business. And that is exactly what my store is. A eclectic treasure trove of small business, some makers that I have met locally and lots that have since become friends. It is a space where people come to chat, come to meet their friends and buy some gifts, knowing that they are also doing good by shopping small. Everything I sell is made sustainably, mostly by hand and each brand has its own story which I really enjoy conveying to others.
If you'd like to pay us a visit you can find us on the beautiful St Mary's Street in the centre of Cardigan. You cant miss us, we are bright yellow! I'll look forward to seeing you x
