Online shopping find: sassica + salter

Despite the two minutes noodles in my cupboard, the greasy oven dying to be cleaned and the rock-hard muffins I recently produced, I really do have an inner Martha Stewart. What better place to unleash my alter ego than at homewares website, sassica + salter? It’s filled with sparkling glassware, slick cutlery and charming chinaware from brands such as Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Cuisipro Who cares if they’ll all just end up sitting in the sink for days afterwards?

Online shopping find

Who

Sassica Salter

What is the name of your online store?
sassica + salter

What do you sell in your store?
I sell homewares, giftwares, kitchenware and children’s bits and bobs.

How did the idea for your store come about?
I opened my bricks and mortar store two years ago and always knew that the online store would eventuate. Finally in July, the store went live.

What is your career background?
My love for homewares, giftware and kitchenware started really during my uni days. I worked at a shop in Melbourne called Minimax over several years and ended up managing the Toorak store on weekends. I spent the majority of my pay on starting my ‘glory box’ and ended up with a pretty good range of things to set up home one day.

From Minimax I ended up in magazines, originally working at Racing Victoria on their industry publication and then finally into consumer magazines working at Pacific Magazines, which is owned by Channel 7. There I worked my way up in the advertising department across several titles such as Home Beautiful, New Idea, Better Homes & Gardens and Famous to name a few. Finally, my dream job became available – Victorian Advertising Manager at donna hay magazine.

I had always wanted to work for Donna and her magazine right from the first issue. I probably bordered on harassment trying to get a job there. I offered my services from when I left uni and had spare time to ‘help out’ with any events Donna held in Melbourne –  reader events, dinners and cooking shows. I was there selling subscriptions and merchandise and getting a bird’s eye view of her shows free of charge – I thought it was ace!

It paid off in the end and I finally had enough experience to sell advertising space in the magazine to all of the Victorian clients. I did this for a few years and then found out I was pregnant with my first baby! While I loved my job and working for Donna, I knew I wasn’t so keen on the daily commute to Southbank, Melbourne.

During my maternity leave, I had started thinking about ways that I could do what I loved as well as looking after a family. I had done mountains of research into running a business and what brands I thought were lacking in Geelong and started putting my ideas into practice. It was actually a great time to set up the shop as my son Tom was eight months old at the time and not mobile yet, so he spent many days with me in the shop while I set up things.

Then in September 2010 the doors to sassica + salter opened. I always knew I would do an online store as well eventually, finally in July 2012 the online experience for sassica + salter was launched.

Who is your key customer?
Someone looking for something interesting, something not always available in the big department stores, those looking for great customer service, free gift wrapping and an enticing shopping experience.

How do you make it easy for your online customers to buy from you?
I utilise a secure Paypal shopping function as well as the major credit cards. If someone want to use Amex, we can always take sales over the phone. Shipping is a flat rate of $9.95 Australia wide and purchased goods are usually sent within two days of payment. Gift wrapping is also free.

Do you sell in person or in a physical store as well?
Yes, I have a bricks and mortar store on Pakington Street, Geelong West in Victoria.

List your current most popular products.
True Grace Candles
Simpatico Home
Uashmama Paper Bags
Redecker Brushware from Germany
Riess Enamel Cookware from Austria
Donna Hay for Royal Doulton range
Petit Bateau baby range

What’s next for your online store?
Christmas! We will be adding a lot of new products to the website and in the store between now and Christmas so be sure to join the mailing list or check us out on facebook to know what’s happening.

Styling You’s top 3

Styling you’s top 3
1. Belle Fleur candle, $69.95 |2. Wedgewood tea caddy, $149 |3. Sophie Konron bird feeding house, $39

Have you found a great online store recently? Did it offer great products or service? Leave a comment below and let us all know about it.

*We were gifted an item from Belle Fleur in accordance with our Disclosure Policy