Branding photoshoot - Department, Chorlton
Department has been a much welcome addition to Chorlton, turning a once empty and forgotten space into a modern vintage lifestyle store. A few weeks back I met Heather, the creative behind department, and Simion of @relovedupholstery for a photoshoot. The images will be part of an upcoming Christmas feature on department for @reclaimmag, coming out in December. For those of you who haven’t yet visited Department, here’s a little more info about the store and the welcoming lady behind it, along with a few of the images from the day.
How would you describe your business?
I would describe it as a modern vintage lifestyle store which sells an eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary furniture, art, decorative accessories, contemporary pre worn but selectively picked clothing and vinyl records.
How long have you been open?
We've been open for 5 months.
What made you decide to open department?
I've always thought that Chorlton and Manchester generally lacked a good vintage furniture store. I've been interested in mid century inspired interiors for the past 25 years and I trained as an upholsterer in the year 2000 and for many years I enjoyed transforming vintage chairs from fusty to funky. However I'm interested in the whole picture when it comes to interior design so not just reupholstering chairs.
I was offered the opportunity to open a shop in the shop premises on Barlow Moor Rd in Chorlton and I snapped it up. I had secretly been eyeballing interesting sellers on Instagram and has met a couple of people who deal in vinyl, vintage film posters and contemporary women's clothing and I invited a hand picked selection of cool vintage dealers but also a couple of contemporary clothing and homeware sellers.
What do you enjoy most about department?
What I enjoy about Department is making it look as good as possible day in day out. I love the environment that I have created which includes playing great music to sooth, excite and inspire people. And a lot of people say that they love the atmosphere of the shop which is a delight to hear.
What might people not know about department?
People might not know that Department is made up of some 30 different sellers and dealers. This helps to provide an ever changing variety of furniture, art, clothing and decorative accessories. I am an experienced upholsterer of 20 years and reupholstered vintage furniture is a speciality of Department.
Who makes up the team at department?
My main shop team are 2 of my associate sellers who are Lianne uber cool art dealer @rhoko.gallery and Angie of @landothepretty who curates an amazing collection of womens clothing including labels such as Marni, Margaret Howell and Agnes B to name but a few.
What are your top 3 tips about running your own business?
Be warm and welcoming to all of your customers, show great interest in their homes and lives.
Interact on social media and keep posting quality photos because social media has replaced the website and is so much more dynamic and interactive. Websites feel impersonal and staid, whereas on Instagram for example your customer feels connected to you.
I guess my last tip would be to make time for yourself to relax and switch off when possible because running your own business can be 24/7.
How do you like to unwind?
I unwind by walking my Lakeland terrier Wilbur, going for a nice Sunday roast after the shop closes, listening to relaxing music, I'm a big fan of Didsbury born modern jazz musician Matthew Halsall and catching a new film at Home or an old film on the TV.
Hello baby! Newborn family photo session
Watch out! Womb warming images ahead…
You forget how quickly the newborn days pass. They’re literally here and gone in moments (not so, unfortunately, for those weary nights)…
But of course, you wouldn’t change it. All those tiny fingers, toes, little jerky movements, warm snuggles, teeny tiny clothes, that baby smell!
Unsurprisingly, I loved spending time with Elora and her family, capturing life with their newest addition, just over 2 weeks since he arrived. A morning of happiness, joy and exuberance. Here are just a few images from the morning…
P.S. Tap on the images to view!
What's on in school holidays
Nearly a week in and a mere 5 to go! I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on anything summer holiday related that’s passed my way. Asides from the eye watering prices of holidays abroad, here’s a good mix of ideas for events in Manchester that are either free or won’t leave you stunned by the price.
Enjoy!
Outdoor fun & adventure
Indoor and outdoor fun, craft, sandpits
Free
Runs until 31st August, from 11 to 3pm
Summer socials! Outdoor fun with stories, crafts and adventure
£9.50
5th, 8th & 22nd August
Midweek magic at Dunham Massey
A mixture of outdoor fun, story telling, fairy trails and an invitation to fancy dress Friday (you don’t need to ask me twice).
Free if you’re a member
Runs until 2nd September.
The great garden adventure, RHS Bridgewater
Lots of adventure and exploring in the gardens, including storytelling, welly walks and visits from birds of prey!
Free if you’re a member
Runs until 4th September
Temporary National Trust urban garden, at castle field viaduct.
Free
Keeping active
Free swimming sessions for children
At a number of leisure centres across Manchester
Simply cycling, Longford Park Track
Try out every shape, size and style of cycle you can think of!
£3 per person
Mondays & Fridays 9 to 12, Sundays - 1 to 4
Wythenshawe Games Mini Festival, Wythenshawe Park
A weekend of games fun, including climbing, archery, British cycling and many more! Also activities for under 5s
Free
12th to 14th August
Wonderful world of stories
Summer reading challenge at Manchester libraries
Runs until 17th September
Interactive, fairy tale town with caves, shops, a market place, the 3 bears and dressing up a plenty!
£8 per child
Runs until Feb 2023
Curious minds
Musical Science at Chorlton Library
Free
15th August
Science museum
Free
Open daily
Described as the “national museum of democracy that takes you through the past, present & future of ideas worth fighting for”
Free
Open daily through school holidays
Keep your eyes peeled…
Keep a watchful eye on their instagram page for news of upcoming summer holiday events
And last but not least… these 2 dedicated websites, bursting with ideas of things to do across Manchester:
Conker crew and Our Kids Social outdoor fun!
Perhaps something to do with being a child of the 80’s, and spending a lot of time outdoors, but I am always drawn to nature and green spaces. I think one of the earliest photos of me is in a massive pram, tucked up tightly in blankets, out in the back garden. I used to spend hours with my sisters out in the garden, making mud pies, playing with toys, shuffling about in our ‘Wendy house’ handmade by our dad, or out in ‘the road’ (not the actual road, worry not, but the turning circle in front of our house) with our neighbours and friends, playing blocky, ‘tennis’ and tag, or riding our bikes along the pavements. I don’t think my dad was too impressed the time I came home having unearthed some actual dog poo with the remnants on my hands, but still…
Lots of happy memories of childhood that centred around the outdoors and that’s something that’s continued into my ‘adult’ life and is of big importance to me in my own little girls upbringing. So discovering conker crew was like being served a tasty dish of homemade, 80’s flavoured, fresh air, mud sprinkled (but without the dog poo) fun! With the heartiest, joy sprinkling, Geordie - Chantel, whose ease, warmth and friendliness has some kind of pied piper effect on children (without the grizzly end).
Real outdoor fun at its best, with something for all the gang - crafting, mud kitchens, sand pits, painting, willow crown making, snack sharing, music making - my little girl still sings the opening ‘camp’ song - “shout, shout, let it all out, here’s some hello’s we can’t (though she sang it as ‘CAN’ for quite some time) do without…”
So it felt like becoming one of THE crew when Chantel asked if I’d like to join her at an our kids social event in Manchester to photograph conker crew ‘on the road’. A whirlwind of colour, craft, pine cones, glitter, pom poms, music, flowers, laughter and nature! Most recently I joined the crew at the jubilee themed our kids social and got to bring my little girl and other half with me for the ride. Here are a few of the images from the day. I highly recommend giving both conker crew and our kids social a try if you haven’t already, you’ll be very glad that you did!
