At the tail end of 2017, I had just finished a contract at the BBC and, for the first time in a long time, found myself staring into the abyss of “What now?” After 30 years in entertainment PR, I was feeling a bit... well, bored and uninspired.

My wife Marisa—ever the pragmatist—was understandably alarmed when I announced I fancied doing something entirely different. But to her credit, she didn’t immediately flee. Supportive to a fault, she stood by me while I tried to figure out what that “different” might actually be. However, finding a job that suited my experience proved challenging, especially for someone in their mid-50s. That’s when I decided to turn my hobby into a business, and the idea for belle&co was born.

To make ends meet, I took on a variety of odd jobs while developing the business, initially as an online outlet. Then in 2019, a shop space became available in the centre of Lewes, where we live. I thought, “Why not?” which, in hindsight, is a phrase that has both launched great adventures and caused minor disasters. Just as we were finding our feet, the Covid pandemic stopped us in our tracks. Miraculously, the shop not only survived but thrived, and I have found myself building a business I love, rather than planning for retirement.

Fast-forward a few years, and belle&co now has a UK-wide and international customer base, including some well-known names and faces. In 2022, we even won Best Local Home Décor Retailer in the Brighton Evening Argus Love Local Retail Awards, which was both surprising and rather lovely.

Concern for the environment was a key inspiration behind starting the business. Choosing vintage and second-hand items is a simple yet powerful way to help protect our planet. By giving pre-loved furniture and décor a new life, we reduce waste, conserve resources, and cut down on the environmental impact of mass production. Every second-hand purchase helps keep items out of landfills and reduces the demand for new materials, making it a sustainable choice for a greener future. Let’s shop consciously and embrace the charm and character of vintage—it’s good for the earth and uniquely stylish, too!

So that’s us. A little shop with a big heart, a lot of character, and the firm belief that second-hand can be first-class.

Yad Luthra, founder of belle&co