A Bristol shop specialising in locally made homeware has been shortlisted for a national award. Prior, which has shops in Old Market and Cabot Circus, has been selected as a finalist for the UK’s High Street Hero award in The Small Awards.
Now in its sixth year, The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the smallest and greatest firms in the UK, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions, inspires and accelerates the nation’s six million small firms.
Prior Shop aims to bring sustainably and locally made homewares to the high street. Following a record-breaking number of applications, it has been chosen as one of eight finalists for the best high street business.
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The independent, not-for-profit shop operates as a workshop, gallery and community hub. Across its two Bristol stores, it showcases design-led, sustainably made products from 150 makers.
Founder Beck Prior is committed to sustainable and ethical design and vets the materials, processes and ethics of all products and business stocked in the shop. She also offers free business mentoring to other makers, spearheads collaborative community projects and gives advice and support to the wider creative community.
The business has grown rapidly and now boasts two shops as well as selling online. The original shop in Old Market opened in 2019 and the Cabot Circus shop recently changed from a pop-up to permanent fixture due to its popularity.
Over the last ten years, Beck has worked her way up from being a solo maker/fabricator renting a small studio space, to an award winning business leader with six employees, two shops and and a thriving online business. In December 2021, Prior won Best UK High Street Shop in Holly & Co’s National Independent Awards.
Beck says: “This nomination in The Small Awards is for the shop as a whole brand but the Cabot Circus shop is what has likely got us nominated because we are supporting so many local makers - around 150 - and bringing sustainable design to a commercial shopping district. About 70% of the stock we sell is made in Bristol.
“Local business shouldn’t be about cut-throat competition and cutting margins - it should be about support, uplift and regenerating local economies. We are a haven for artists and designers, and when local artists, designers and makers are supported, given opportunities, and their voices championed, the whole community wins.”
Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain, said: “The Small Awards is an opportunity to applaud all the inspiring, positive things that these fabulous, finalist entrepreneurs have achieved over the last year, particularly as we start to move forwards once again.
“The phenomenal number of applications, and their incredibly high standard, has been fantastic to see. Beck should be extremely proud of being shortlisted for this award.”
Judged by a panel of enterprise experts, the winners of all categories, along with the overall winner of Small Business of the Year, will be announced on May 19. After being held online for two years due to the pandemic, the awards ceremony will return in person this year to take place in London.
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