Lovely Finds Emporium has opened at 26 Chantry Way with more than 100 independent makers under one roof. Opening hours, what it sells and how makers join.

A shop selling the work of more than 100 independent makers has opened in Andover’s Chantry Centre. Lovely Finds Emporium opened on Saturday 17 October at 26 Chantry Way.

Each trader has space in the one shop, so a single visit covers what would otherwise be dozens of market stalls. The opening was announced by Test Valley Borough Council.

Market traders with a permanent base

The shop was founded by Louise Tucker, who ran her own handmade gift business first. The council says many of the makers are familiar from the Chantry Centre’s indoor market and Andover’s Second Sundays market. The shop gives them a fixed town centre base between market days.

“Having run my own handmade gift business, I know first-hand the challenges small businesses can face when trying to reach new customers,” Ms Tucker said. “Creating Lovely Finds has given me the chance to support other makers while bringing something unique to Andover.”

The two borough councillors for Andover St Mary’s, Iris Andersen and Debbie Cattell, cut the ribbon. Cllr Cattell called it “exactly the kind of business that helps create a vibrant and varied town centre.”

What is on the shelves

The shop’s own website lists handmade gifts, jewellery, artwork, homeware, children’s clothing, books, and fresh bread and treats. Its traders page names the makers. They include:

  • leather bags and belts, from several separate leatherworkers
  • fused glass, ceramics and hand-turned wooden craft tools
  • soy candles, wax melts and small-batch skincare
  • crochet toys, children’s clothing and knitted baby blankets
  • homemade chutneys and marmalades, and home-grown cut flowers
  • natural dog treats and small-animal beds

Two traders give their profits away. Sandras Crafts for Charity donates to a cat rescue charity. Shirley Creations raises money for HART Wildlife Rescue.

There is a bookshelf too. The shop stocks self-published authors, among them Rachel Allison, who the shop describes as an Andover author, a mother of two and a military wife.

Opening hours

The shop gives these hours on its website:

Day Hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
Sunday Selected Sundays only, 11am to 2pm

It posts its Sunday opening dates on Facebook. Chantry Centre parking and the other council car parks are on our parking page; every council car park in Andover is free after 4pm and all day on Sundays.

What it means for you

If you make things and want a shelf in a town centre shop, there are two routes in.

  • Adult traders should ask the shop directly, through its contact page or at hello@lovelyfinds.co.uk. It does not publish its terms for adult traders online.
  • Makers aged 17 and under can join its Young Entrepreneurs scheme. There is no monthly rent. The shop keeps 20% commission on each sale and the young maker keeps 80%. Two young makers are already listed.

The shop says it judges each application individually, to avoid too many traders selling the same thing.

Another new shop backed by the council

Lovely Finds is the second Chantry Centre opening this month, after Ziver Organiques on 1 October.

On the High Street, the council has also given a £750 Business Incentive Grant to Premier Andover, a family-run convenience store opened earlier this year by Chiragkumar and Bhavik Patel. The council says the grant must be applied for within eight weeks of starting to trade, and is paid after six months of trading.

Opening a shop in the town centre yourself? Our guide to the council’s shop grants explains who qualifies for the £1,200 Independent Retailer Grant and the £750 Business Incentive Grant.

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