Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Steamer Trading Cookshop officially opens its first store in Cornwall next Saturday (July 9).
The doors of the specialist retailer’s new branch, in the city of Truro, will be unlocked at 9am with the Mayor of Truro, Councillor Rob Nolan, officiating at the formal opening ceremony at 10am.
Acclaimed artist and humourist Simon Drew, the founder of Simon Drew Gallery Designs, will be in store sketching and will be available to sign any books or merchandise. His drawings are shown on greetings cards, mugs and aprons which have been stocked by Steamer Trading for many years. Simon regularly exhibits at Spring Fair.
As part of Steamer Trading’s aim to build relationships with the local community, it has also run a competition with primary school St Mary’s C of E School in Truro, and has received over 100 cake and cupcake designs from pupils, highlighting what Cornwall means to them.
In addition, throughout the day there will be cookery demonstrations. The event not only heralds a new venture for Steamer Trading in the south west but marks the start of a new relationship with the Divertimenti Cookery School, which will open in a spacious, purpose built area upstairs later this summer. The school is Divertimenti’s first ever undertaking outside the capital.
The branch measures 4,400sq ft over two floors and is in a prime location on 2-3 Pydar Street, near the cathedral. The premises is a Grade II listed building, previously occupied by fashion retailer River Island. Steamer Trading said: ‘The interior has been sympathetically and carefully remodelled and modernised to offer customers a bright, light and airy atmosphere.’
Ben Phillips, managing director of Steamer Trading, told www.HousewaresLive.net that as well as an extensive range of cookware, kitchenware, tabletop and small electricals, the new store “will focus more on local product, such as Cornish pottery and Cornish textiles”.
Steamer Trading is a family-owned business founded in 1985 by Ben’s parents David and Liz Phillips, respectively the former buying director of Habitat and home editor of ‘The Sunday Times’.
In March, Steamer Trading acquired the Divertimenti name and website and took over the lease of the 3,700sq ft Divertimenti cookshop at 227-229 Brompton Road in south Knightsbridge, which includes the Divertimenti cookery school.
In May, it acquired 100% of the shares of Kitchens (Catering Utensils) Ltd. Under the deal, Kitchens’ three award-winning stores in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff have become part of Steamer Trading.
Headquartered in the East Sussex two of Lewes, Steamer Trading has 41 stores throughout the UK and sells online at www.steamer.co.uk, www.divertimenti.co.uk and www.kitchenscookshop.co.uk.
Artist and humourist Simon Drew, founder of Simon Drew Gallery Designs
