A Kendal outdoor firm has opened its first bricks and mortar store.
Whitby & Co has opened Berry Useful on Finkle Street, as part of the Spinning Jennies development in the former Beales department store.
Whitby & Co has over 60 years of heritage in Kendal, and is now playing a direct role in the revival of a retail space that means a lot to the local community, it said.
Berry Useful is Whitby & Co’s consumer-facing brand, which showcases and sells a range of the outdoor and lifestyle products that the company markets online, complementing the firm’s existing wholesale operation which supplies specialist retailers around the country.
Phil Ellwood, managing director of Whitby & Co, said: “The outdoor sector has experienced considerable growth in recent years, particularly as more people have become interested in getting active in nature.
“The opening of Berry Useful in Kendal just before Christmas gave us the opportunity to directly engage with our local customers, and we’ve been pleased with the positive trading period over the festive season and into the new year.
“Berry Useful is a fresh, exciting brand that brings together our best products for consumers and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to do that in an attractive retail environment in our home town.
” This project also enables us to further develop our first-hand understanding of the various aspects of retail, and this will in turn help our wholesale operation, which remains the core of the business.”
Spinning Jennies is a key part of the wider regeneration of Finkle Street, revitalising a former department store space into a vibrant destination for both locals and visitors.
The development will feature a mix of independent shops, local makers and street food vendors, creating a dynamic retail and hospitality environment.
With plans for new additions like PENN and Spinning Jennies Farm Shop opening in the spring, the area is quickly becoming a hub for unique shopping experiences, vibrant street food, and community-driven spaces.
