The Curiosity Shop- quirky independent retailer in Great Dunmow, Uttlesford
Meet Yogeeta and Lee, who run The Curiosity Shop. a quirky treasure trove based in Great Dunmow, Uttlesford.
Lee and his wife have been running the shop for 5 years after the previous owner decided to sell up and they jumped at the opportunity as Yogeeta had been working in the shop and knew it inside out.
The Curiosity Shop is exactly that, it sells everything from incense and candles to birthday cards and children’s traditional wooden toys. The team also has a therapy room at the back of the shop for more holistic style healing from hypnotherapy, which Lee practices through to Reiki.. The Mind, Body and Spirit section of the shop is popular and people come to focus on their mindfulness and overall well being.
“We have so many different types of customers and everyone has been really supportive throughout each lock down, we are looking forward to reopening” says Lee
Their story:
The Curiosity shop Great Dunmow is run day to day by Yogeeta and Lee looks after the accounts side of things “i am not allowed to touch the till in case i break it” says Lee.
The products sold most often in the shop tend to be cards and gifts for special occasions with men in particular coming in looking for advice on what to buy. They have a lovely community of local parents who come in looking for something special to keep the kids entertained that you wouldn’t find in most high street chains and they have their regular customers who focus on their wellness who will be ready in line for the new scented candle or crystal.
So if you are local and want to try out some reiki or simply want to pick up a birthday card from a local independent shop, The Curiosity Shop, Great Dunmow is for you.
During the pandemic the husband and wife team found that connecting with customers on social media was actually better for them than selling through a website.
Curiosity Shop has been operating a click and collect system and going as far as allowing people to DM them on Facebook Messenger for a product and the team going down to the shop to take photos of the various options and allow the customer to choose then order.
Although very excited about having people back in the shop soon, they love that we can use social media just to check in with customers and other local businesses in the same way they would having a conversation in the shop.
Sometimes a simple ‘how are you?’ is all anyone needs to lift their spirits
“We know we cannot do that forever but if someone is struggling for that perfect gift or finding it difficult to choose between two options, we would rather go that extra mile and help them”
How can you support them:
Check out The Curiosity Shop’s Instagram here to see more hidden treasures you can get your hands on as they go into reopening.
Please give the local businesses some social love. A like and comment means so much to local businesses.
Check out them live along with other local businesses here on Great Dunmow’s High Street Guide and see what else you can discover in Great Dunmow #shoplocal #uttlesford #greatdunmow
Nearby High Street Guides:
Essex
