This month we kick-off our retail spotlight feature with online interior emporium and Newgate Clock stockist Rockett St George. Join us as we catch up with founders Jane Rockett & Lucy St George to find out what inspired them to turn their passion for interiors into full-time careers.
At Newgate we’ve been supplying our clocks and watches to a carefully curated mix of independent boutiques for over twenty-eight years.
We love the depth and diversity that our independents bring to their stores, from beautiful bespoke displays and distinctive product collections to the unique ethos and personal ambitions at work behind the scenes.
As an antidote to the current gloom and doom of the British high street we wanted to champion some of the small businesses and independent retailers that we’re proud to supply, kicking off with statement homeware enthusiasts Rockett St George.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Jane: I have a background in PR and Photography. I live in a small village in mid-Sussex with my husband and three children – Tyler, Lola and Eden.
Lucy: I have a background in retail and I’m ex-florist. I live in North London with my two daughters – Ella and Grace.
We met at a fancy dress party in the late 1990s. Lucy was dressed in over-the-knee white boots, a white mini dress and wig (a sexy fairy), while Jane was wearing a red sequined dress, a blonde wig and a sash reading ‘Miss Leading’. It was love at first sight and our friendship was sealed when we discovered our passion for black clothes, flea markets, Manchego Cheese, travel, Tom Hardy and (of course) interiors.
Tell us about your store
Rockett St George is an online emporium of expressive homewares with an exceptionally quirky and eclectic style that inspires and delights. We launched Rockett St George in 2007, wanting to turn our passion for interiors into our careers. To this day we still source and/or design every product on our site ourselves.
Asides from our unique product offering, we hope to inspire and connect with our fabulous customers through our monthly hot list and blog, VIP club, at our exclusive RSG customer events and through our buzzing social media channels. We have a concession at Liberty London and we have also co-authored our interior design book, Extraordinary Interiors, which is dedicated to creating a showstopping home that wows!
What inspired you to start your business
We founded Rockett St George in 2007, after spending our weekends trailing antique shops, flea markets, and car boot sales, rearranging the furniture in our homes and continually re-decorating (much to our families’ annoyance!). With a purpose to break free from chain store offerings by sourcing unique, authentic and quirky pieces bursting with individuality our passion project has grown beyond our wildest dreams into a fully-fledged business.
What kind of products do you sell? How would you describe your style?
We sell everything for the home including furniture, lighting, kitchenware, home accessories, wallpaper, paint, gifts and so much more! We would describe our style as uniquely expressive, edgy and eclectic!
What's your favourite Newgate Product?
We love the Newgate mid-Century sunburst wall clock! It’s super retro and catches your eye as soon as you walk into the room, making it an excellent focal point for your home interiors.
What advice would you have for other would-be boutique owners?
Dare to be different! Don’t just follow the status quo, make sure your brand stands out from the crowd and remains faithful to your unique style. This is hands down the best and most authentic way to inspire your customers.
Who or what are you influenced by?
We have dedicated an entire chapter in our book, Extraordinary Interiors, to this because we are influenced and inspired by so many things! From beautiful places discovered on our travels, our favourite hotels and restaurants, design shows, catwalk trends, Instagram, history… these things never fail to get our creativity flowing!
A big thanks to Jane & Lucy for sharing their passion for interiors with us! If you love the distinctive RSG look then be sure to explore their latest collection over at www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk or drop by their pop-up shop in Liberty London for more interior inspiration.
