about us - Everything has a story – including us

how notonthehighstreet.com began?

Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish shared a passion for hunting out the kind of charming, unique and carefully made things that you sometimes stumble across in cool urban markets, village fairs and tucked away boutiques. They also shared a desire to give everyone the chance to buy those things.

As with most great ideas, it started with ‘what if…?’. What if people who wanted original, creative things could find them from the comfort of their own homes, and independent small creative businesses could find people who would love their ideas anywhere there was an internet connection? And in 2006, with a lot of hard work, ‘what if…’ became ‘let’s do it!’.

It’s funny how thinking small can create something so big. When notonthehighstreet.com started there were around 100 hand-picked small British businesses on board, many of them creating products from their kitchen tables after a full day’s work. Now there are over 3,000 of the very best, with more joining each week. Many of them are no longer at their kitchen tables – the dream has become a way of life. In short, it’s now a living, breathing community of real people who have stories to tell and who can help you tell your stories, too.

Over 50,000 products – carefully curated and with quality, innovation and style shining through in every little detail – means that finding just the thing, whether it’s for you or for a thoughtful gift, is easy. And with charming, cutting-edge and inventive personalisation, there are unlimited ways to tell a good story. It’s easy to find what you’re looking for, shopping is simple and fun and there’s someone to talk to if you need help or inspiration.

notonthehighstreet.com is for people who want to say something unique about themselves, their homes and their friends and families, who think about what they’re buying and why. Whether for a heartfelt marriage proposal, celebrating a new arrival or simply saying thank you to someone who went out of their way to help, they love the idea of finding products and gifts that tell their stories, or even help create them. And, if you’re reading this and find yourself nodding in agreement, it’s for you.