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Here at The Pure Living Company we have had an extremely busy few weeks leading up to the festive period. We are dedicated to getting to know our customers and more importantly getting to know their taste in home-ware. Over the past few weeks I have noticed recently our Nkuku range has been very popular with our customers. Nkuku specialise in stylish, eco-friendly and fair trade gifts.

All their products are inspired by the traditional skills of artisans throughout Africa and India. The name ‘Nkuku’ was borrowed from a village in Zambia. They combine contemporary designs with age-old techniques, natural materials and sustainable methods of production to ensure each product is truly exceptional. We have recently just received in store these beautiful iron Petal t light holders, which look sublime when lit. The mesmerizing candle light flickers through the hand cut holes casting beautiful shadows and creating a serene and warm atmosphere.

This product is available in 3 sizes, which look stunning as a set or just as lovely individually.

£24.95 Large: (18cm height x 22cm diameter)

£18.95 Medium: (14cm height x 16cm diameter)

£12.95 Small: (10cm height x 12cm diameter)

Myself and the owner of The Pure Living Company, Katinka, were discussing today how independent stores compete with major brands like John Lewis and Ikea.

For example, say an independent store that specializes in unique, one off items sells a lampshade.

Now this lampshade is a one off item that has been made especially. The price is £49.99.

The major retailer has their lampshade for only £29.99

Why do you think that possibly the customer might think the independant store’s price is too high?

Does the public understand what goes on behind the product?

The labor cost, the materials, the time?

My take on it is a major retailer has a lampshade, that has been made in large quantities, manufactured abroad so the labor and material costs are a lot cheaper, who probably sell 1000′s, they can afford to sell the lampshade for £29.99, the sad reality is also that their profit margin will also be higher than the independent stores lampshade.

The lampshade that has been hand-made with high quality materials, which would last a lift time, compared to the low quality, manufactured lampshade that will last only a few years, why are customers not coming to the realization that if you spend a little more, the rewards will be greater.

What is your perception on this…?

Feeling stressed about your Christmas Shopping and looking for an easier shopping experience?  Why not come and visit us here?

We are open every day from 09.30 am (9 o’clock on Saturdays), and with the newly introduced Free one hour’s parking in the village car park, it is much easier to stop here.  We serve tea and coffee and have new products coming in all the time.

Up until Christmas we also have Late Night Shopping on Thursdays until 8 O’clock.  Why not shop with us, then meet up with friends for a drink or dinner in one of the Chalfont St Giles pubs or restaurants.

NEW This week at The Pure Living Company

Maxwell and WilliamsThis 56 piece Bistro Cutlery Set will make any Christmas Table very stylish.

Special Price £85. Usually £170!!!

All sorts of Candles

The warm glow of candles brightens any room.  We have candle sticks, candles in tins, candle glasses and tealight holders of every description! 

Today I would like to introduce you to our PR Copywriter (who actually writes this blog!!!)…ME’!

Jasmin

Born in Hertfordshire, UK

Interests: Currently studying PR & Marketing at Buckinghamshire University!

Job Role: Public Relations (Copywriter)

“Hello! My name is Jasmin, and I am the face behind the blog! I have worked for The Pure Living Company since September 2011, and i must admit I love my job! I am currently studying Public Relations and I am lucky enough that this job allows me to experience PR first hand, thanks to Katinka, which benefits me by giving me experience preparing me for my career after University! I love to be enthusiastic in my writing and try to get the reader to feel what I feel!”

Firstly, I would like to introduce you to the owner of ‘The Pure Living Company’!

Katinka van Wyk

Born in South Africa, moved to the UK in 2001

Interests: Making a house a home, by creating unique ideas and implementing them into my home and others!

“My name is Katinka van Wyk. I was born and grew up in South Africa and moved to the UK in 2001, working in the financial sector. However, that was not satisfying my passion. My mother has been running a successful interior design and decoration business in South Africa for 28 years. As a young girl I was always helping in the curtain factory and never missed an opportunity to go with her when she worked with her clients. My dream was always to run my own business, my passion was to do something creative and my inspiration comes from my mother. Today, I run my own interior design business, selling mainly ethically sourced South African products.  Some come from community projects and it is particularly rewarding for me to source and sell them. I feel it is important to give something back to these rural communities and create opportunities for them.”

Price: £12.00 incl. VAT

Dimensions: Size approximately 34x34cm

The Pure Living Company has awarded this weeks ‘Product of the week’ to one of our beautiful new ‘Cow Comforters’ from one of our  new designers in store, Tiny Todds. London based TinyTodds is the UK distributor of soft toys and baby gifts from the Swedish Teddykompaniet, a company already well known in the Nordic countries for its exceptional quality products. The range includes a wide selection of the more traditional soft toys in luxurious materials and imaginative designs and also features their unique Diinglisar collection -loveable farmyard animals in soft pastels and wild animals in bolder safari colours.

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A lovely finishing touch to any nursery, we think this is a lovely gift and will make a beautiful addition to the baby’s room.
This beautiful design is made with the finest, luxurious fabrics.  The Pure Living Company are proud to stock a range of different designs in this product, which you can find our full range on our website, or come and join us in our store where one of our dedicated members of staff will help you find that perfect ‘New Baby’ gift for your loved ones.