West Kilbride: Artisan marketplace is new craft hub

The marketplace is the brainchild of Giuliani’s owner Craig Masterton, who set up the venture last year to give home-based businesses a chance to sell their wares on the high street.

The marketplace has proved a big success, with locals heading along every weekend to browse a range of products from the ever-changing line-up of makers.

Now the marketplace will also be used as a hub for two local businesses to sell their wares, with different faces and products still coming to the marketplace every second weekend.

Craig explained: “Due to the current economic climate we’re all going through, we’ve decided to make some changes to the way we operate our artisan marketplace.

“Instead of running weekly markets for artisan craft & food producers, we’re going to run them every second weekend.

“We’ll be advertising for producers soon once our dates are finalised, to follow up on the success of the past year.

“We’re also going to be having two craft producers on site on a more permanent basis in the back area of the unit.

“They will be using this as a workshop to make their goods and use the front space during the week to sell their products.”

The first producers at the site have been announced as Peter and Angela Ort, who run Misty Isle Mercantile and Ort Fort Design.

The pair make candles, home fragrances and Scottish themed gifts, and say they can’t wait to get started in the marketplace.

They said: “Located in the heart of West Kilbride we have a passion for creating beautiful and unique home decor and home fragrance items.

“Explore our collection of scented candles, including some with scents inspired by the Scottish landscape, as well as decor items that will add a touch of elegance and style to any room.

“Our little family moved to West Kilbride about a year and a half ago from the States. We absolutely adore this town and are happily settling in.”

You can visit the marketplace at 2A Orchard Street in West Kilbride.