Who visits Scoop? Renate Beaumont, Vanilla in Oxford

With our retailers open once again, Scoop founder and managing director Karen Radley had a chat with Renate Beaumont owner of Vanilla in Oxford to find out a bit more about her business.

Tell me again why you launched Vanilla?

I was cycling in Summertown, Oxford and saw an empty shop and thought, “this is my time to start my own adventure into the world of fashion!” 20 years on and I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose Oxford?

Oxfordshire has been my home for 26 years

Do you have a Vanilla look?

I believe in supporting small independent labels and I love having an eclectic mix of things in the shop. I would say the overall look is relaxed, bohemian, colourful, inspiring and playful!

Have your customers changed over the past 20 years?

We always had a very loyal customer following which is amazing. With the expansion of the shop and our work on social media our customer base has become much wider and international which is always exciting!

Did you have any concerns about reopening?

We have put all the recommended measures in place, and we  only allow two customers in the shop at a time. Above all, we have created a safe environment that people feel comfortable in!

Have you taken any lessons from the lockdown?

We have launched our online shop and have increased our social media posting.

Do you have any exciting new collections or designers coming on board for this summer season?

We are always looking for new labels and have taken on a lovely new collection from Greece called Dream, amongst other new exciting lines!

Whether you're a designer or a retailer, we'd love to hear from you. Email us or use #InspiredByKindness on social media.