Funiture and interior specialists Velvet open in Hove
Award-winning lifestyle company Velvet open their fourth store
Brighton success story Velvet have opened their fourth store; a beautiful furniture and home accessories showroom located at 66–68 Church Road, Hove, in the old Gamleys toy shop.
“The old Gamleys shop is one of the best-sized stores in Hove, so we jumped at this opportunity to show the huge range of furniture we sell from our website. Existing customers have been asking us to open a furniture store in Hove for ages and the response from our first couple of weeks has already
been fantastic!” says codirector Emma Harrop.
The renovation took approximately five weeks in total – and what a transformation! During the build some wonderful finds were discovered, including six huge sash windows at the back of the store, beautiful wood panelling and solid oak flooring. Velvet has sympathetically restored it to its former glory and their wonderful range of products perfectly complements the building.
At the new store you will find everything you would expect from a lifestyle boutique as diverse as Velvet – scented hearts and door knobs (from £3.50), glass and acrylic chandeliers (from £49), Venetian and Frenchstyle dressing tables (from £125), retro and designer replica chairs (from £95), king-size beds (from £349) and huge French armoires (£695). You will also find a stunning new collection of furniture, lighting and mirrors, and a brand new range of beautiful wallpaper and home accessories.
With three existing stores in Brighton and Hove, and a successful online store, Velvet are already renowned for their extensive range of furniture, lighting, mirrors and accessories for the home – all at very accessible prices. Velvet has built up this loyal following of customers by continually offering a high standard of customer care, with the friendly and experienced team spending a great deal of time with customers on the shop floor, and behind the scenes.
This great customer service helped Velvet win ‘Best Independent Retailer’ in the Brighton and Hove Business Awards 2007, and in May this year, Velvet were announced the winners of ‘Best Independent Gift Retailer – south and southeast’ at the prestigious Greats Retail Awards.
In the new Church Road store the high ceiling allows Velvet’s magnificent collection of chandeliers and lighting to be viewed in all their glory and the vast wall space has been covered with a selection of striking wallpaper from their new range. Sun floods through the tall windows at the back of the shop, illuminating their modern and vintage leather sofa and chair collections and the Moroccan inspired embossed silver furniture. You’ll have no need to cross the channel to pick up some Gallic style; at the front of the store you will find Velvet’s collection of French reproduction furniture – one of the finest in the country, and a huge range of gifts and home accessories. At approximately 2000 square feet, the new store is Velvet’s biggest store to date, of which they are very proud.
Last year bought about some huge changes for Velvet as velvetstore.co.uk was launched and the whole business was rebranded, which included some However even as the company grows it remains a friendly family business at heart. Emma and Nick Harrop started Velvet in 2000, with Emma’s mum Iris Draper. Now Emma’s dad George heads up the furniture delivery team and even the family’s black Labrador and King Charles Cavalier are regular visitors to the stores! The hardworking and friendly team of 30 enjoy working at Velvet which transpires to giving the shop floors a lovely atmosphere. Whichever store you visit, high street or online, you are sure to have a very warm welcome.
Furniture, lighting, mirrors and home accessories.
66–68 Church Rd, Hove and 29 Bond Street, Brighton.
Gifts, clothes, shoes and accessories.
27 Bond Street, Brighton and 10 George Street, Hove.
