Around the Jordaan area and towards the Leidse Plein there are many wonderful tiny shops specialising in whatever they want. Part of this area is called "De Negen Straatjes" (the 9 little streets) but the Harlemmerstraat is also very cool.
Some shops have turned into mini chain stores but most display a desire to be totally individual and somehow discover their niche markets. I don't know how you would start a small business like this and make it work but many seem to have had an idea and just went with it. Or... daddy gave them a leg up to get started... he took the risk and they went with it.
And then ask yourself as a new shop owner - how do you come up with a new way to sell chocolate for Easter? Make chocolate stilletto shoes.
So for example you can find industrial lighting, beautiful stationery, art books, 2nd hand books, specialist shoes, vintage threads, antiques, art deco lights and furnishings, print-makers, shoemakers, milliners, photographers, etc.
And then ask yourself as a new shop owner - how do you come up with a new way to sell chocolate for Easter? Make chocolate stilletto shoes.
Grand pianos? Give them a canal -side show room with Golden Age views.
Got some fresh paint? Why not create painted floor canvases.
Best advertising? -on the back of a bike.
Best advertising? -on the back of a bike.
Ex- health services vintage frames for spectacles??? Yep.
Jazz and soul on vinyl. Ukeleles. Blingy customised retro cameras in an array of designs and colours, displayed along a wall of 1000s of photos.
Industrial lighting, beautiful stationery, art books, 2nd hand books, shoes, vintage threads, antiques, art deco lights and furnishings, print-makers, shoemakers, milliners, photographers, etc.
Afterwards... have a drink in a lovely brown cafe or sit canalside and enjoy the sunshine. It almost hit 20 degrees on Sunday!
the shops look amazing & probably best to window shop I would imagine!!! On a different note but not unrelated, there is a shop here in Port that is actually selling choc easter shoes also- slightly different in that they are marbled choc colours- reds/pinks,yellow/oranges etc & also lifelike in size!!! Guess they are for the woman who has everything or not to be sexist, the "person" who has a shoe fettish!!!!PJ
ReplyDeleteI do remember seeing shoes like this and matching handbags too. Also, bits of the human anatomy, in chocolate, in Holland. Won't go further with this post as it might get a bit difficult if I try to explain what those bits looked like.
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