By Beth Doherty
Twitter:@bethdmedia / @new_valleynews
Instagram: @bethdohertymedia / @newvalleynews
A lifestyle shop in Wilton Shopping Village is rebranding and moving into a bigger store, and Michelle Baxter, owner of Moe & Co, promises some exciting changes.
Michelle was at Herbs and Wild working hard at a laptop although it was her day off.
She started Moe & Co because she wanted to see something different from the usual high-street shops.
“I would often visit Bath or Bristol as they had independent shops with beautiful handmade items that weren’t mass produced or shipped in from afar.
“I wanted to see something different,” she told me.
The result was Moe & Co, a lifestyle, gift and homeware shop selling handmade British products produced by creative women.
“Since the pandemic, there has been a huge shift in support for local businesses. By supporting women making things in their homes, or studios in their gardens, I feel I am doing my bit to help these amazing creative business owners.”
Michelle’s enthusiasm for supporting women in business is infectious, and her positive outlook on the future of retail is refreshing among the current doom and gloom.
“A lot of businesses are not surviving locally, but we are thriving and I am taking a big chance choosing to expand and rebrand now: but we can’t put our lives on hold for forever,” Michelle said.
With Michelle’s new shop comes a new name and a wider range.
“It’s my pleasure to share with you my new brand White Fig! We will continue to stock our usual gems and treasures and we will also be expanding into lounge and knitwear!”
Stripe and Stare, who will supply White Fig’s loungewear, produce clothes that are 100% compostable, making their products out of beechwood trees that use 95% less water than cotton production.
“I think it is important to have a sense of luxury at home at the moment. The sustainable element is important to me, and this is an amazing alternative to fast fashion,” Michelle stressed.
I asked her about the future of Wilton Shopping Village, which is going through a period of great change. She said she was excited to be a part of the new vision.
“It’s a great community here and it is going to be a fantastic destination for shopping and coffee with friends,” she replied.