Kellie’s Story
From learning to crochet in hospital to opening her own independent shop on Salisbury high street, Kellie’s journey shows how The Teenage Market gave her the confidence, experience and belief to turn creativity into a thriving business.
🧶 Where it began
When Kellie first took part in The Teenage Market as an 18-year-old, she could not have foreseen the transformative impact it would have on her life. Eight years later, she has opened her own shop on the high street in Salisbury, selling a range of handmade crafts from local artisans.
Kellie’s story began in Salisbury Hospital, where she learned to crochet while attending a hospital school due to health challenges. What started as a way to pass the time became a passion, and soon, even doctors and patients requested handmade items.
“I started crocheting to keep busy. Then one day, a consultant saw what I was making and wanted to buy one for his daughters. That moment planted a seed in my mind.”
Inspired but unsure of how to turn her passion into a viable business, Kellie came across a flyer for the Salisbury Teenage Market events at her local library. The Teenage Market was not only Kellie’s entry point into selling her creations, but also a powerful pathway that led to her deciding to open a high street shop.
✨ The big stepping stone
Kellie describes The Teenage Market as “the big stepping stone” in realising that her passion for crafting could become a viable career.
At the market, she honed her customer service skills and began building a loyal following. Her first Teenage Market experience was both exhilarating and transformative. She recalls the joy of earning £80 on her first day and the confidence it instilled in her.
“It was surreal. People liked my work, and it gave me a sense of pride and validation.”
Through the connections she had made at the market, and the positive feedback she received from customers, Kellie was given the confidence to take the next step.
“People were coming back to buy more, and they remembered me. It was then I realised there could be a place for my business beyond the market.”
🏪 From shared space to shop owner
With this realisation, she took on a shared retail space in a shop, renting a small section where she could sell her crafts regularly. Eventually, after several years of operating in shared spaces, Kellie gained enough regular customers to open up her own shop in Salisbury.
When a property on Winchester Street became available, she seized the opportunity to establish the independent emporium Stuff, reflecting the eclectic mix of handcrafted items from local artisans she had met along the way.
In doing so, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning a shop at just 24 years old.
Today, Stuff provides shelf space for artisans to display their work, allowing them to avoid the costs of running a shop and creating a constantly evolving showcase of one-of-a-kind items.
“It’s a little bit different to any other shop in town. A lot of people have popped in and said that they’ve seen things here they haven’t seen anywhere else,” Kellie shares. Her shop now stands as a symbol of what can happen when young people are given the right support to test an idea and grow.
Reflecting on the accessibility The Teenage Market provides, Kellie acknowledges the challenges many young people face when starting a business. “Having that opportunity for free was a game-changer. I didn’t have to pay for a market stall, which is often too expensive for beginners,” she says.
Now, as a business owner, she continues to advocate for The Teenage Market, encouraging young artisans to explore it as a stepping stone to entrepreneurship. Kellie’s journey illustrates the invaluable role The Teenage Market can play in transforming young people’s lives — helping them overcome personal and financial barriers, build confidence and turn creative passion into a thriving future.