As we step into the second month of the year, we have some fantastic news! Time flies, and with spring just around the corner, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be returning to RHS Gardens Harlow Carr for our pop-up shop when Harrogate begins to bloom. We can’t wait to see you all there again!
But that’s not all—this year, we’re making our dream come true. We’re delighted to reveal that our much-anticipated showroom will finally be opening its doors! Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to welcome you into this brand-new space.
A Look Back at Our Journey
Shall we take a moment to reflect on our journey together?
In 2023, we proudly celebrated 25 years in business—a milestone that hasn’t come without its challenges. Our first shop opened in Harrogate in November 1998, and by 2004, we had expanded with shops in Harrogate, York, and Chester. However, the 2009 global financial crash hit us hard, forcing us to close all three stores.
Determined to rebuild, we moved our business online and eventually established a small office/showroom in Harrogate. The covid pandemic in 2020 meant high demand on online shopping and our online sales skyrocketed. As the online sales grew very quickly, we needed more space for the stock, we had to downsize our showroom part within the office, only to leave limited area for displaying our beautiful products.
(our old showroom before the pandemic, 2019)
That’s why our pop-up shop at Harlow Carr has been such a fantastic opportunity. We love meeting our customers in person, helping them choose the perfect items, and hearing their stories about visiting Japan or planning their trips.
And now, the time has finally come…! Since the pandemic, we’ve been working hard to secure a larger space to expand our premises. We’re excited to announce that while we’ll remain in our current location, we’ll be moving our stock department to a warehouse next door, allowing us to improve our showroom space! We’ve been putting great effort into making it a wonderful experience for our customers.
To give you more insight, I sat down with Hiromi, one of our company Directors, to talk about the new showroom.
Q&A with Hiromi
(Hiromi, the director)
Q: What are you most excited about the new showroom being open?
A: I can’t wait to meet our wonderful customers in person again! I love chatting with everyone, and I’ve truly missed those interactions. It’ll be fantastic for customers to see, touch, and try our products before buying. I look forward to helping everyone find their perfect Japanese gifts!
Q: What can customers expect when visiting the new showroom?
A: If you enjoy seeing and feeling products before purchasing, you’ll love our showroom! We’re dedicated to offering excellent service with a touch of Japanese hospitality. Plus, we’ll have some exclusive items that aren’t available online. And of course, don’t miss the chance to meet our adorable mascot, Bazil, a Tibetan Terrier —our beloved pet dog!
Q: What’s your next challenge?
A: My next challenge is to make this showroom one of the very best places to see and buy Japanese gifts in the UK, hopefully, we can expand the business even further!
Q: Before the showroom opens this year, The Japanese Shop will once again be at Harlow Carr (27/02/2025 - 05/05/2025). What special Japanese gifts can our customers expect to see?
A: I’m excited to share that we’ll have some fantastic exclusive items, including some stunning new tableware, beautiful kimono, fun fridge magnets, charming small ornaments and some cool comic books for manga fans! Plus, I’ve just imported some stunning Haori - authentic vintage kimono jackets - which will be available at a special price. If you love flowers, don’t miss our beautiful selection of mini vases! I can’t wait to see you there!
(RHS Garden Harlow Carr pop-up shop, Spring 2022)
I hope you enjoyed this month’s blog! Hopefully, we’ll see you in person at the Harlow Carr pop-up shop from 27th February to 5th May. See you soon!
Keep checking our Instagram and Facebook pages for the exciting news of our new showroom opening day!
(Hiromi busy setting up new stock room)