Business: Embracing Change


Pop into ‘People’ on Poplar Road and you’ll find that it’s had a facelift. While the shop still has a distinctly vintage vibe, its new look is more clean and contemporary, with bright white walls, sparser displays and more open space. It also now includes a large craft-making table where owners Christian and Allison Sadler create many of the clothes, accessories and homeware on display.

‘We wanted to incorporate our workshop,’ says Christian, ‘so that people can see us making things when they come in.’

‘And it’s not just for us.’ explains Allison, ‘We love that customers can have a cup of tea and do a bit of knitting while their friends are trying on clothes.’

The makeover is not the first change that Christian and Allison have faced in their twenty year partnership. They began by selling their handmade crafts on market stalls, but in 2000 they gave up the itinerant life for the stability of their Kings Heath shop.

‘We wanted to bring together what we were doing in the studio with the retail business,’ explains Allison, ‘and help support other local designers. It was the right time to do that.’ 

Fast forward ten years, and it was time to evolve again, this time by diversifying. Christian established his ‘Mr Christian’ bespoke dressmaking service while Allison started offering craft workshops. Both new ventures have been extremely successful.

Allison believes that a willingness to embrace change is essential in business. ‘As creatives, we’re good at taking things apart and putting them back together in a different way. The last two years have been the most exciting we’ve ever had.’ 

But she still hopes the next big change won’t happen too soon. ‘We’ve worked morning, noon and night to get the shop looking how we it to be. Now it’s time to relax. We just want to enjoy it for a little.’

For more information, visit People's website.

(Published in 'My Moseley and Kings Heath' November 2013)

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