Page 18 - Oundle Life May 2025

QA
AND
IRIS &
MABEL
Vintage vibes
Lucy Alcorn has always lived in period
properties with a traditional interior. She
started buying a few items to sell on and
advertised them through her Instagram
account. An Etsy shop soon followed, but Lucy
knew she wanted to build her brand.
When was Iris and Mabel established? I have
a huge collection of antiques and art myself, so
in early 2022 I set up my own website www.iris-
and-mabel.com. Here you can fi nd all the latest
stock, my blog and a list of dates of when and
where I will be at fairs throughout the year.
Where do you source your stock? I source a
lot of my stock from auction houses and antique
fairs – all within the UK. I usually set off very
early to get the best deals with my trolley as a lot
of the open air fairs are set in huge spaces. I love
the atmosphere and talking to the traders who I
have got to know over the years.
I am also approached by individuals that
have inherited items that they want to sell. I am
always happy to make home visits for house
clearances or to view individual items.
Any colleagues or do you go it alone? I pretty
much do it all myself! Sourcing, cataloguing,
styling, photography, admin and posting and
packaging. I do have an accountant which I
think is a must when running a small business –
it takes the stress out of the fi nancial year!
Do you off er a delivery service? Yes, all
the smaller items are sent by post. I always
endeavour to use recycled packaging and boxes
to send our parcels, which I feel is so important
to the ethos of my brand. Any furniture or
larger items can be couriered within the UK.
What brings you joy? I guess the positive
feedback I receive from my customers, either
online or in person at fairs. It confi rms to me
that my business is going in the right direction
and that I am sourcing the right products.
I take great pride in styling and putting on a
good display at the fairs I attend, so it is always
lovely to hear that people like what I do.
Who inspires you? My Mum. I grew up in a
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