The Bendy Street Emporium

I am so excited to share this little shop peek of The Bendy Street Emporium located in Canowindra NSW, Australia. The owner, Kate, recently placed an order with us and I was instantly impressed by the beautiful shots on her website and wanted to see more. Unfortunately with me being in California and Kate being in Australia, sadly I can't hop right over and peek around the shop myself, so I figured this would be the next best thing! If you are in the area be sure to stop by and visit Kate, you can also shop online where you will find all kinds of goodies for just about every room of your house! Thanks for sharing, Kate!

How long have you had the shop and what inspired you to open it?

I have had the shop open for 7 weeks now but have had it in my mind for the last 15 years after a visit to Scottsdale Arizona of all places. I was on my first honeymoon (Elizabeth Taylor would be proud, I am remarried to my second husband now - another story), a 7 week road trip through the States. We found this cookbook shop, only small, but crammed with great books and there was a fantastic smell coming from the back room. The food wasn't for sale but I was sold. The woman who owned it was so passionate about food, books and living a great lifestyle, it left an impression on me and I thought that one day I would have a similar shopping experience.

We went to NY, Colarado, San Fran and all over. Coming back to Australia, which I love, I found a hole in the market, we are not great at shopping experiences, wrapping, showing off. I got sick of hearing "Do you want a bag with that" If you buy something that you love, it should be wrapped up and lovingly presented not shoved in a plastic bag. So a long story short, I met my farmer husband and we moved to Canowindra, a quirky little country town of 2000 people in the heart of wine and food country. It is full of farmers, artists, winegrowers and foodies. Lots of creative people. I thought that just because we live in a country town doesn't mean we shouldn't have access to beautiful products from around the world. I am constantly trawling the web, Twitter, Etsy, magazines etc to find new designers doing something a bit different. The shop has something new every week and the website lets me keep the stock flowing so it is always fresh. That and I will probably send myself broke by just having to have things I see and love. I have had the shop open for 7 weeks now but have had it in my mind for the last 15 years after a visit to Scottsdale Arizona of all places. I was on my first honeymoon (Elizabeth Taylor would be proud, I am remarried to my second husband now - another story), a 7 week road trip through the States. We found this cookbook shop, only small, but crammed with great books and there was a fantastic smell coming from the back room. The food wasn't for sale but I was sold. The woman who owned it was so passionate about food, books and living a great lifestyle, it left an impression on me and I thought that one day I would have a similar shopping experience.

What is the most challenging part and your favorite part of being a store owner?

The biggest challenge of owning the shop is probably freight. The irony is that I can get things more easily from the US or Europe than I can from our own capital cities. The great thing about being a shop owner is seeing the reaction to the store. The town has adopted the shop and it has a nickname already. I have a vintage bike out the front which everyone loves and even the school kids are worried that it might be stolen one day. I love that it is a happy place to visit, not eliteist like some boutique shops can be, but a place for everyone to come. I have music playing that I love from all eras, probably not the taste of the very trendy, but if I feel like a bit of George Micheal then that is what we will all be subjected to.

What are your favorite products that you carry in the store right now?

My favourite product in store now would have to be Mr Darcy T-Towels from Brookish from the US. I found her on Etsy and love these towel printed with Mr Darcy's marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Predjudice. I love watching people read it then get to the end and swoon. From our Australian designers I am also loving baby bangles from Little Lamb Designs . They have lamb, fawn, elephant and bluebird charms and great hand knitted lambs included. So gorgeous.