the story so far
Hello we're Jenny Vaughan & Simon Young joint founders of RE
RE went from fantasy to reality between 2002 and 2003, before RE we both had careers in fashion design. Armed with years of
experience designing, developing collections, planning and compiling comparative store reports, we decided we wanted a new challenge
- to set up shop, selling lifestyle and home accessories.
We opened shop on the 7th of November 2003 in a converted workshop, a large industrial space at the back of a filling station in Corbridge,
a small market town in Northumberland. We sell an eclectic mix of the raRE, REmarkable, REcycled, REscued and REstored - furniture
and objects for the home. It was always our intention to reach a wider audience and we launched our first mail order catalogue and
website in 2004 followed by ecommerce in 2005
Since those early years we've gone from strength to strength, winning Homes & Gardens Retailer of the Year in 2011. In the same year we opened
a pop up in the prestigious London store Liberty, followed by a concession in 2012 which ran successfully for the following two years. In 2014
we opened a Christmas pop up at The Baltic Gateshead. 2019 saw the launch of our new website and a trade offer.
In November 2023 we celebrated our 20th anniversary by commissioning artist Jonny Hannah to create a unique, colourful globe,
the world according to RE, celebrating two decades collaborating with designers, makers and manufacturers from near and far.
The globe, featuring many of our iconic products, and their countries of origin, took centre stage in a
special anniversary animation created by Richard Henderson.
the RE team
The RE team are a small friendly bunch - the RE family. If you've been in the shop, e-mailed or phoned you'll have spoken to one of us. We pride
ourselves on our personal customer service and relationships, we are moRE than happy to help, however we can, both in store and online.
We are pet lovers and welcome all canine customers (as well as their owners) many of whom are pin-ups on our social media.
REgd. & Fairtrade
To differentiate the brand and as creative entrepreneurs, we developed REgd., our own range of unique products designed in house and produced
by local crafts people or trusted manufacturing partners around the world. Although our products come from far and wide we have a strong
philosophy of working with Fairtrade organisations where we can and local co-operatives to ensure fair pay and working conditions. From Kenya
to Guatemala, the Philippines to Bangladesh, we are proud to work with companies who produce beautiful homewares for us fairly and ethically.
Look out for the REgd. logo both in store and online.
the environment
REcycling, REusing and REspecting the environment have always been mainstays of RE, well before it became fashionable.
We have never used plastic bags in store, preferring REcycled paper shoppers. Our mail order packing is 100% paper
based and we ensure, wherever we possibly can, that our products are environmentally friendly, fairtrade, made from sustainable materials
that are REuseable or compostable. We also REuse some boxes and packaging from our supplier deliveries.
our pledge
We try to keep our prices fair and realistic. Shipping is charged at cost and the packaging consumables costs are absorbed by RE.
We have fixed shipping charges but customers from further afield can fill their baskets online and request a shipping
quote. We will also ship items bought in store for standard shipping charges.
There's no point attempting to shoehorn our range into a paragraph, but if you do need a plaster Virgin Mary and a bottle of the best bubble
bath in the world, this is the place! We have a huge cross section of customers and prices so whether in the store or on line
everyone leaves with something - even if it's just a smile on their face!
And the name RE? It's a found object itself. Two large metal letters bought in a Paris flea market. Now you know!
Jenny Vaughan & Simon Young
