There’s a hum of fun as soon as you step into Hollie Foster’s store on Bedale’s high street. There’s also the smell of cake and good coffee.
Step inside her shop, Noah & Maeve, and you’ll find toys. Nice pastel-coloured wooden toys that is, from brands like Le Toy Van and the adorable Maileg characters, such as the mouse and rabbit the shop is named after. There’s no harsh primary coloured plastic crying out for attention.
The toy shop is more than enough to keep little ones – and grown-ups – happy for a while, but carry on through and you enter a forest-themed space which invites you to the next adventure – coffee, cakes and treats.
Hollie outside of her Bedale shop. supplied Sitting down with your cup of Baytown coffee, Hollie’s pal Kerry Parker may well pass you with a ginormous strawberry sponge cake fresh from the oven, demanding to be sliced and transplanted to your plate. Kerry is the chief baker in this family-friendly and very welcoming coffee corner of Bedale.
As you take a bite, you might hear the sound of giggles and playing upstairs. This is where little ones gather for workshops and crafts in summer, such as cupcake decorating – yes, more cake!
Or, it may be that there are a couple of mums looking through the rails of the pre-loved children’s clothing that line the walls, as their little ones play with toys on a rug.
The business is a family and friends affair for sure – Kerry is also a Montessori teacher – Hollie was on work experience with her – and Hollie’s mum June Hewson is co-owner as well as the social media and comms side of the business.
Hollie’s vision for Noah & Maeve followed her successful online toys business which too off during lockdown.
She explains, ‘I wanted to build up a community of people – a place without screens and plastic, somewhere grandparents would like to come and a little hub for mums.’
The pre-loved clothes and premium brands are a big pull for parents too.
‘We have brands like JoJo Maman Bebe, White Company, Next, Mamas & Papas – people bring items in and get a credit note to spend in the shop – on clothing, toys, the cafe or workshops.
For summer Hollie hopes to get a license for table outside so that walkers can take a breather and enjoy some of Kerry’s cakes.
And for the little ones, the literal next step is the opening of a shoe shop upstairs on the premises in time for the September term selling brands such as Start Rite.
What started as a baby steps business is now making big strides.
noahandmaeve.co.uk
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