“It’s nice to be nice”

SHOP opened in October 2006 on The Christmas Steps, in an area which has long held a reputation for independent and cooperative trading in an arts-led community.  In 2008 the Steps and surrounding area were renamed The Christmas Steps Arts Quarter to reflect this creative tradition.

SHOP began because vintage clothing has always provided alternative access to high fashion – with originality and fashion-forward thinking at non-couture prices.  Vintage pieces are one-offs and often the reference point for catwalk trends.  Furthermore, the damaging impact of modern clothing manufacturing on the environment (and often human rights), which the established fashion industry propagates is crucially avoided when buying recycled clothing.

There was always a desire for SHOP to be a social space, not just a retail one and during the first year we managed – despite at that time only having a small shop-space – to have an a-board based arts project, an all-girl DJ night and live local musicians performing in the shop.

In January 2008 SHOP moved to bigger premises next door, which provided a larger space to develop what had been started in 2006.  This included a larger retail area and a lounge to encourage people to use SHOP as the social space it was always intended to be.

In October 2009, after discovering that the social and community aspects to SHOP were what drove the company, rather than the profit, the decision was taken to become a Social Enterprise (non-profit Community Interest Company).  It was at this point we really felt we had found our true identity.

A year later, in October 2010 SHOP expanded even further into the neighbouring property (the old SHOP), which meant that events and community arts projects could develop.  This is now the home of SHOP’s dedicated arts space.

More recently, as part of SHOP’s community remit, we have begun creating events on the Steps themselves, organising the Christmas Steps Artisan Market and other Christmas Steps Arts Quarter events.

See community arts for a full list of all the events SHOP has hosted in the past.

As SHOP is a Community Interest Company (CIC), we are not for profit.

If you would like to support SHOP and the work we do, then we welcome donations, either of vintage goods or by becoming a SHOP Club member.  There are three levels of membership:

1. For free, you can become A SHOP Fan:

  • Monthly Newsletter
  • 10% off ALL purchases

Email us here to sign up: hello@shoptheshop.co.uk

2. For a £5 annual donation to the CIC, you can become a SHOP-Per:

  • Monthly Newsletter
  • Total of 20% off ALL purchases!
  • And of course, you will be actively supporting the development of a Community Interest Company

Add your details and donate here:


3. For a £10 annual donation to the CIC, you can become a Hot SHOP Member:

  • Monthly Newsletter
  • 30% off ALL purchases!
  • And of course again, you will be actively supporting the development of a Community Interest Company

Add your details and donate through paypal, here:

Many thanks!

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