A COUPLE from Romsey have put their skills together to bring their most-loved products and brands to a new gift shop.

Fig and Fox opened on Saturday, October 22 in Romsey with the aim of selling items from local producers and artists with a strong environmental focus.

The shop, located in The Hundred, will be home to fresh flower bouquets- produced in the studio above- as well as house plants, cosmetics, jewellery, homeware, cards, and gift wrap.

The concept was created by Helen and James Mitchell, from Romsey, who have combined their design experience to launch the business and feel part of the community.

James, who ran a production company designing theatre scenery, said: “There are loads of exciting products and brands that we love, we are very excited to bring them to Romsey.”

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The shop owners considered the environment throughout the business plan, including compostable packaging and a recycling point for used coffee cups.

A local food and drink produce area will be filled with products from companies such as Chococo, The Garlic Farm, Flacks Brewery, Slab Fudge, and New Forest Teas.

While the counter will offer speciality coffee from Moonroast Coffee, a small coffee roaster based on the outskirts of Winchester. Cakes and bread from Hoxton Bakehouse will also be available. Fig and Fox hope to be recognised as the best coffee in Romsey and plan to enter the South’s guide to the best coffee.

Shop owner Helen, a former design and technology teacher, said: “Every item has been handpicked by us. We have commissioned local paper artist Samantha Pierpoint to create a series of paper illustrations for the brand, drawing inspiration from the New Forest and our surroundings. These illustrations will feature on our gift boxes, available  to fill in store, allowing each gift box to be tailor-made for the recipient.”

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The first floor of the unit hosts a small commercial kitchen, office, and studio space. The studio features a UV printer capable of printing designs onto most surfaces. A selection of Fig and Fox ‘own brand’ products will be placed across the shop, most of which can be personalised and collected within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the shop’s second floor is opening in January as a space for artists to run workshops for the public to attend.

The shop is opening at 42-44 The Hundred, on October 22, following a preview party on October 20.

The full range of products will be online and available for delivery anywhere in the UK from October 22 at figandfox.co.uk.