Inside Exeter Craft Hub on Sidwell Street with Sonya

Along Sidwell Street, independent shops do much more than sell goods. They anchor the neighbourhood's emotional and creative landscape. In this feature, we visit Exeter Craft Hub to speak with Sonya about creating a welcoming retail space that showcases local makers and serves as a vital community haven.

Operating for seven years total and rooted in its Sidwell Street location for five, Exeter Craft Hub was designed from the ground up to champion independent talent:

"We're Exeter Craft Hub & we're on Sidwell Street. And the nature is we sell on behalf of local crafters & we're also a safe space, we're very much like a community hub. Business has been running for seven years now, we've been here for five years & our biggest customers we have in here are students."

The shop's inception grew out of Sonya's own creative background and a desire to give hobbyists and independent makers a physical platform:

"I used to be a graphic designer, always done creative & crafts, & I'm a sports coach. And then I had some time off, why not open a shop? There's lots of people like me that enjoy crafts as a hobby... why don't we have a shop for people, the little crafters that be able to sell their items?"

Beyond retail, the shop has evolved into an essential sanctuary for mental wellbeing and uninhibited creative expression:

"It's not just about traditional crafts now, it's more than that. It's all about being kind, it's all about supporting people. People come in if they're maybe distressed about something or they've got some anxiety, this is a safe place that people can come & be creative, feel safe that there's no judgement."

Integral to that welcoming atmosphere is Orsa, a beloved resident therapy dog who holds a special place in the hearts of visitors:

"And then we've got Orsa here... she's a therapy dog. When she's in here, people come not to see the shop but just literally just to come to her. She's a big part of the store, she's a big part of Sidwell Street."

Addressing a wider community need, Sonya emphasises why spaces like the Craft Hub are so vital for the city's younger generations:

"There's no youth clubs, there's no places for young people to go, & there's also not many places if you're feeling kind of wobble for whatever reason, there's nowhere you can just go & sit quiet. So in here, that's what I offer."