The Life of The Shop

"New horizons - part 1"

2010-07-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

HOW THE SHOP EVOLVED...Katherine interviews Holly to reveal the secrets of business success in the heart of Piccadilly. We start with learning the original inspiration for the shop and how it became a reality in 2006.

Katherine: "Hi Holly. Lovely to be here in your beautiful shop, sipping tea with you!"

Holly: "Thank you. It's great to be here with you too and to talk about the shop at this exciting time of change for us".

K: "Can you give us a brief history of the shop?"

H: "Sure. So the first time I saw this shop it was always shut. Very much like 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'...there was this beautiful shop at the front of the beautiful little Royal Opera Arcade, just off Pall Mall. But it was always shut and the blinds were always down so it was dark too. I thought that was such a shame because it looked like a such a pretty shop with a lot of potential. Until one day I walked past and saw that the lease was for sale. And this was really good timing. I thought: now I can do something with that shop and I started to wonder what this could be...

So I thought PRINTING would pay the bills. And people want really good quality printing in this area. People here really care about presentation: all the beautiful galleries, buildings and stunning arcades in and around us proves this. And I thought, it's not just functional; it's the opposite that is needed -- it should absolutely SHINE to look its best.

Later that day I got on a train to a friend's house and I wanted to send a thank you card from the train. So I'd bought a pack of 10 blank cards. I wrote 1 card...and then I thought well they're all blank cards...so I'll just write all the others. So I just sent a whole load of cards to poeple. And afterwards I felt really good.

I also had been given a journal a few years before; I wondered what I should do with this journal for a long time as it sat on the shelf...and then I thought, I know, I'll write a poem in it each day and memorise it. So I did this with a whole load of poems...maybe 100 poems. And I memorised them all - one a day...curiously when the journal finished, I just stopped. It wasn't until a couple of months later when a friend asked me how the poems were going, that I realised that when the pages ran out, I put the journal back on the shelf and stopped thinking about it.

And I thought afterwards that the inspiration did not come first for either of these things: the cards were there and the journal was there. So I thought, wow, this is how inspiration is born! People can buy something special without knowing how they will use it, but the item will lead them into a creative process, which is ultimately life-enhancing. We don't have to be inspired and then go out and do something...we can infact just stumble across some lovely stationary one day on a lunch break and that can inspire us to do something unique and fulfilling, even if we don't know it will. Also for people buying gifts for other people, it may seem like a ridiculous idea but it may change their life.

So I then thought I'll do stationary with the printing. And the shop's moto came about: "overwhelming kindness to all who enter". Because without the right atmosphere, inspiration can be lost. Another moto is "it's all about presentation and doing things as well as you can". It also doens't have to cost more: it should be that whether you've got a lot of money or a little, the shop will cater for you".

K:"Mmm that's really important. I think presentation makes a difference to how you feel when you're in the shop, which in turn informs (subconsciously!) what you choose to buy and why!"

H: "Yes. Exactly. If you're just scribbling on a scrap of paper in a hasty moment then it's not fun, infact it can be stressful and unappealing". But if you write with a beautiful pen in a beautiful book and you have a coffee and sit in the park, it's a beautiful experience".

SUMMER BOOK LAUNCH

2010-06-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

NEW BOOK LAUNCH COMING UP! See Facebook for details :)

THURSDAY 24th JUNE, 5.30 - 7.30pm in the shop and arcade. See below for a summary of the wonderful book being launched with us:

In Restoration
by Valerie Thornhill
In Restoration is a fascinating read for several reasons. There is a strong story-line, the characters are memorable and credible while the descriptions and details paint a full visual picture. One is transported to specific Italian and English landscapes with their buildings, characters and views. Why is Olivia's need to find her father and the olive groves which inspired her name of paramount importance to her? Why did her partner, Paul, become a restorer of paintings in Florence after the devastating floods of 1966, and what drove the couple to seek refuge from personal tragedy in a remote Tuscan valley?

Themes of loss and restoration of lives, love, houses, landscapes and paintings are interwoven in a vividly-written story set against the background of World War II, post-war Europe and the Sixties up to the present day. It is a story binding together the often amusing hopes and fears of two families while contrasting suburban existence in Guildford, Surrey, with the rural experiences of Gianni, an enigmatic stonemason, and the centuries-old cultivation of terraced hillsides in Italy.

This is not only a book about love and betrayal, understanding, acceptance and the healing power of landscape and a recreated house but, above all, it is about human emotions, intensely experienced while sensitively and truthfully revealed.

COME AND JOIN US on Thurs. 24th JUNE, 5.30 - 7.30pm!!

Sunny shoppers!

2010-05-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Well the weather Londoners all love has FINALLY arrived today in all its glory. I may even dare say that it feels like summer here in London as the sun is full in the sky and it is 26 degrees...hooray! As people skip around central London looking relaxed, joyful and wearing ever brighter colours, we seem to have leapt straight from a freezing winter to a wonderful summer.

But as I look around, I realise it is not the sun that tells me we are in a new, more positive season. I have realised that people coming into the shop look happier, more vivacious – like they have been woken up and are now alive and buzzing. A well-known sun-worshiper and SADs sufferer, I know I do!

People talk about their weekend plans with great enthusiasm and anticipation, safe in the knowledge that they can be outside and it will be warm and therefore life is great. People plan day trips, buy cards for long lost friends, plan parties, plan evenings in the parks, buy journals for exciting holidays they're plotting, now that they have been reminded of the out-door life and the relaxing summer months ahead...

My good friend Belinda – also a music therapist – just came into the shop and looked excitedly round for a journal exclaiming “I just don't know which one to choose...they're all so lush!” I asked her where she was going: “Tangier, Morocco on a choir tour!”... “well, you'll definitely need a journal” I replied as we continued our search! As she was leaving, having chosen her ideal journal - small and red with a leather binding, fit for capturing and savouring exotic memories - I had a sudden realisation about what the season changing does to people: everyone seems to look forward when it's summer, and backwards when it's winter. Both have their place, but I am definitely ready for less reflection and more proaction in my life!

“A party needs a focus and a reason…”

2010-05-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

For Pall Mall Printers' very first Blog, I thought I would interview our lovely owner Holly about our monthly Book Launch events as there is one coming up tomorrow..!

Katherine: So tell me about the events – the book launch parties we host!

Holly: The parties are to inspire people. They are open to everyone and their aim is to inspire the community as well as to promote writers’ work. They are set in our beautiful arcade and the environment contributes towards people wanting to follow up on their ideas. Our events bring people together in a great way. And people are inspired by sharing their knowledge and their ideas whilst sipping a cocktail and munching a snack!

K: And do we sell the books in the shop?

H: Yes we do.

K: Why is it important to have a focus to the parties?

H: Sometimes, I think people can feel awkward coming to an event where they don’t know everyone. So we felt it was important to have a focus – that’s why we also have the authors’ talks, we have a shop sale and we have the book as the focal point and starter for inspiration. This really works as a concept and everyone ends up chatting to each other. The authors also sign the books and people can go and talk to the authors.

K: So when you host these events, where’s the talk? What is the set up?

H: So there are lots of different stations; things to look at: the bar, the arcade displays, the shop. The author stands in the arcade on a pedestal. I usually get up and give a brief introduction to the author and thank everyone for coming. The author will then give a 10- 15 min. talk.

K: Is there anything I’ve missed?

H: One important thing about the parties is that they are community parties. Everyone is welcome and it’s all about including everyone. Everyone shines and sparkles!

K: That’s really important because I would imagine lots of book launches are fairly exclusive invites aren't they?

H: Lots of parties generally are exclusive invites and I really don’t see the point. It’s nice to have the community all together. It’s just right. Everyone sparkles!

To keep up to date with all our future events visit
http://www.pallmallstationers.co.uk/