Trader Profile-The Snow Sheppard
Looking for beautiful, sustainable, minimal design objects and furniture for your home or smaller folk? The Snow Sheppard can definitely help out! We chatted to one half of the design duo, Elizabeth Snow, about the inspiration behind their stylish brand – read on friends:
Tell us a bit about you and your business…
We are Stephen Sheppard and Elizabeth Snow. Partners in business and life, we design and sustainably make original birch plywood toys and homeware in our Corsham workshop. Having a small family business is wonderful and we feel so lucky to be doing what we love.
Our plyware sits happily in a modern and minimal home and appeals to an eco-conscious family who carefully consider their footprint when purchasing new additions and curating their homes.
Our ethos is to ensure that we have as low an environmental impact upon the planet as possible. We also firmly believe in keeping our range affordable whilst being handmade with care and consideration. This way, our lifestyle products are accessible to all and offer a quality that cannot be achieved by mass manufacturing.
Where do you get your inspiration – what motivates you to do what you do?
We’re inspired by Japanese lifestyle, the simplicity of Danish design, Architectural publications like Enki and visits to contemporary art spaces like Hauser & Wirth or Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Gradually creating and constantly improving our own family home provides both inspiration and motivation to finess our designs and bring them to fruition.
Why did you choose to come and trade at The Frome Independent?
Stephen lived in Frome for 10 years and we have lots of local friends and favourite hang outs. It feels like a home from home. We love the energy and mix of makers and shoppers alike. The market has its own lifeforce!
(Even in the pouring rain, spirits remain high)
What do you like about market trading – why not just sell online or through retail outlets?
We love face to face, heart to heart encounters with our plyfans! There’s nothing else like it. To be able to talk about what we make and how we make it makes us so very happy and watching shoppers walk off with our pieces in hand fills us with pride.
Tell us about your own favourite or best-selling product. How much work goes into creating it, why do you think this is your strongest product?
We really love our dual-sided children’s easel ‘Arty’ and it’s matching stool ‘Perch’. We spent a long time perfecting the designs and trialling them on our own toddler to ensure functionality and maximum durability. We added thoughtful details like a cup holder, fold out shelves for chalks and giant cogs on the paper clamp for little fingers to operate on their own. Both products are very popular at this time of year. Grandparents especially love to gift this duo as it’s a modern take on a classic, creative plaything.
What is your favourite Frome shop, or stall to visit at The Frome Independent?
Our favourite Frome shop is without question Assembly on Catherine Hill for the perfect seasonal menswear edit. We have too many favourite stalls to mention but we can’t stop buying soap on a rope from our market neighbour Apostle. It really is the best!
And finally, some quick fire questions….
Favourite book?
We love cooking our way through recipe books and a current favourite is Tomato by Claire Thompson.
Describe your dream day off.
A late, lazy breakfast with the papers and the radio on, a woodland walk with the dog and the kids, a spot of gardening and then cooking a feast with records playing and a glass of wine in hand. Perfect!
What are you listening to right now?
Bill Callahan or Alela Diane on vinyl, Off Menu or Desert Island Discs on podcast.
What are you cooking/ eating / drinking at the moment?
Family Dim sum nights are a favourite. Steamed, fried, all the condiments and toppings…. Yes please!
You’ll find The Snow Sheppard in our Designer Maker section in Market Place on Sunday 4th December – or if you fancy having a little peruse of their wares before then, check out their website: www.thesnowsheppard.co.uk – you can even order online in advance and pick up at The Frome Independent!
