A not-for-profit shop in Cabot Circus that sells work by 150 sustainable designers has been nominated for a national award to be the UK's favourite independent business. Prior, which moved from Old Market to Quaker's Friar in September 2021, has garnered a lot of attention this year, with mentions in three national publications alongside the award showcasing the best local businesses.
The shop sells handmade, sustainable creations - clothing, beauty, homewares, jewellery and art - from makers across Bristol with 100 per cent of the profits fed back into the community. Owner Beck Prior, who creates sustainable homewares and bespoke lighting, said she still gets goosebumps looking around at what the team has created.
Beck first set up the independent shop, workshop, gallery and community hub in Old Market in 2019 as a result of a life-changing illness. In 2010, she was diagnosed with leukaemia at 26, and in the three years that she was ill, she couldn’t have a regular job so started doing markets on Sundays as a way to still work and be creative.
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“After having a bone marrow transplant and getting better, I developed my practice as a product designer," she said. "In 2018 an opportunity came up to take on a shop in Old Market. I thought it would be a workshop space but once I had the keys and opened the doors, I saw it as an opportunity to bring people together in a creative way."
Prior stocks contemporary, consciously made, sustainable products, and most are made locally alongside workshops and art exhibitions from the city centre space. Some of the products sold at Prior have been listed in The Guardian and Red's lauded Christmas gift guides, which has helped put the business on the map.
Beck said she still pinches herself that she has a store in the centre of town surrounded by corporate, commercial brands from Cabot Circus, Broadmead and Quaker's Friar itself.
"Shopping independently is fantastic, no matter if it's a small or a big shop. I think what's fantastic about Prior is the location, nudging through these massive, shiny, fast fashion, almost soulless brands, and being just as tall as them. It's such an amazing feeling every day walking in and opening the shop, walking past Harvey Nicks and Apple."
Beck added that the location means the shop is often misconceived as a branded shop, meaning that they connect with different customer audiences who may not have been aware of the store's not-for-profit, sustainable ethos. The increased footfall during the Christmas rush has been warmly welcomed, as the store had feared the worst after a challenging year financially.
"We've really struggled this year, to the point where I've had to write my line in the sand. At what point do I agree that enough is enough?"
Beck said she felt so elated that people had chosen to come and spend their money with Prior after a tough few years for everyone. "People are spending less and I'm so forever grateful we're who they've chosen to spend their smaller budgets with.
"It's been tough to own a retail business for the last three years as ultimately your message is 'buy things with us please'. You're trying to sell products but at the same time, I'm a responsible, conscious shop and I care for the Bristol community and my staff."
Beck also wanted to dispel the misconception that handmade equals lower quality, hobbyist work, with hours and hours of work going into the products.
"I make sure as a maker myself that every piece of work that comes into the shop I personally check for its quality. I think why people have come back for Christmas is that it's a considered purchase but they know it's going to last, treasured and potentially even passed down."
The shop also doubles up as an event and gallery space, having recently funded a local photography exhibition. The artist commented on how brilliant the space was for exposure in a prime city centre spot.
“Because Prior is not for profit, our aim when running workshops is accessibility, for creatives and also for different segments of the community. Last year, our profits went towards an event held by Everyday Racism and we funded an artist to provide candle-making workshops for vulnerable adults."
Beck added that Prior shop was a brilliant amalgamation of everything she had done in recent years. "Sometimes as a creative, you can feel a bit lost because you're chasing lots of different avenues and the shop, for me, combines everything from my product design world, the experience I had working in galleries, and as a youth worker with the workshop spaces."
Prior is listed as one of the 150 businesses with Love Bristol Gift Card, part of the Town & City Gift Card initiative active across the UK and Ireland. Town & City Gift Cards is sponsoring the Help Us Find The UK’s Favourite Local Business competition.
The competition closes on Wednesday, December 21 and people can vote for any local business free of charge at www.lovelocalwin.co.uk.
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