Barnes + Binns General Store has brought a new homeware and bodycare retail space to Hove, with the focus firmly on sustainability.
“We were both very passionate about making changes, and where better to start but in our own homes, community and now in the store?,” says co-owner Rachel Barnes, who opened the store with Sarah Binns. “We’ve curated a collection of products that we felt were important to make available to people, from brands with a story of sustainability and that hold the same ethos and drive to make as little impact on our earth as possible.”
Barnes + Binns stocks a variety of bathroom essentials, such as deodorants, sponges, oral hygiene, shaving kits, soaps, shampoo and conditioner refills; kitchen essentials including washing-up brushes, home cleaning refills, sponges; as well as a large range of homeware products like water bottles, wax wraps, reusable bags, laundry detergents and tea strainers.
The store – which opened in September last year – is split into two spaces: one for the retail side of the business and the other for workshops, with each offering a different atmosphere. “We wanted to give the retail space an airy feel and keep it modern and minimal to clearly showcase the products. We have tried, tested and believe in every product so it was important to display them in a way that would give them the platform they deserve. The workshop space at the back is more intimate and warm, making it a place people can come to and feel relaxed, enjoying their time creating and being inspired.”
The workshop area is available to the public and is something Barnes believes will continue to evolve over time. It is also a way of the owners ‘staying engaged with what’s going on in society and discovering how we can stay relevant’. “Having recently opened, it’s important to establish what we have, the workshops we want to develop, and continue to gain the trust of our community and its needs.”
Barnes says that the response to the store has been ‘overwhelming and really positive’. She says: “One of the things that customers have regularly brought to our attention is the fact that a store like ours is needed and that we have things that can help people start their journey towards living a more conscious and thoughtful lifestyle.”
