Sisters Karin Coombes and Chris Hancock have opened The Pepperpot in the recently vacated High St site previously occupied by Jilly, Tilly & Boo. Although in the same genre as its predecessor and the newly-established Cato Cooper, it’s as unique in its own right as the growing number of other “shabby-chic” outlets in the town.
The sisters specialise in vintage kitchenalia, painted furniture and stock new and old gift items. Keeping it in the family, the in-house designer is Chris’ daughter, an artist and designer with a penchant for fashioning shoes, jewellery, textiles and prints – many of her creations can be found in The Pepperpot under her Grace Elizabeth label.
Karin and Chris have number of exciting ideas in the pipeline such as vintage crockery hire for weddings and other special occasions which makes this another outlet to keep an eye on.
The siblings see their decision to open the shop at 7b High Street as a natural progression after enjoying success at Wellington and Milverton Street markets and at Taunton Flower Show, and wanted to create a permanent site where customers can purchase and browse in a friendly atmosphere. It must be in the blood as they come from a family of successful retailers; their mother and father ran a newsagency, their brother runs Microcheck in Longforth Road and another sister was a joint partner of P&L Building Supplies.