Mini Eden, the green kids shop in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, is undergoing an exciting expansion and moving to bigger premises nearby. A special launch event will take place at the new shop on 17thNovember, complete with children’s entertainment and delicious baked goods courtesy of local artisan bakery, Ivy Cottage Baker.
With this move, Mini Eden is developing its offering both as an eco-conscious, pre-loved clothing shop, and a family-friendly space. Its new home will introduce the Mini Eden Coffee Café, which is inspired by Hygge and has a cosy and comfortable seating area.
The family shop will be adding pre-owned maternity clothing to its collection, as well as maintaining its wide-ranging stock of pre-loved children’s clothes from labels including Joules, Fat Face, JoJo Maman Bébé, Monsoon and Zara. There will also be plenty of space for buggies to park.
Another addition to Mini Eden’s new shop is the introduction of children’s balance bike hire, which is an ideal way for local or visiting families to explore together the numerous cycle routes that begin in the area, as well as test out the popular bicycles for kids.
The new café will sell CarvetiiCumbriancoffee, drinks, snacks and vegan-friendly treats. Ivy Cottage Baker’s scrumptious Italian biscuits will be on offer at the café, which is the only place they can be purchased outside of the famers’ markets in Kirkby Stephen. Dairy and gluten-free traybakes from Appleby will also be for sale, as well as Ella’s Kitchen and Bear 100% natural fruit products for kids.
Mini Eden’s owner, Linnhe Harrison, is delighted about the shop’s development, as well as conscious of its significance in a rather remote area, such as Kirkby Stephen.
“I’ve always tried to make the shop more about the space and the ethos, rather than purely about the products. I’m hopeful that the new Mini Eden will provide a little sanity for mums, dads, carers and grandparents, and a place to escape to from the house – if only for an hour – to enjoy a good brew, and perhaps browse the clothing and gifts while the kids play with the Lego.”
As an environmentally-friendly business, the premises will remain free of plastic other than the very popular Lego ‘pick ‘n’ mix’, which will still be available. Mini Eden is aware of the importance of ethical and green purchasing for parents and, as Linnhe points out, “It is not difficult to be kinder to the world”.
“Our clothes are either pre-loved or end-of-line clearance stock (i.e. the stock that ends up in landfill), our gifts are either handmade, fair trade, made locally or pre-loved, and the coffees, teas and cakes are either organic, fair trade or sourced locally.”
