The Braw Wee Emporium is a fantastically unique independent music and gift shop based in the Barras Art and Design, in the heart of the Barras Market. What makes us different from other retail businesses is our commitment and passion for finding the unique, and being actively involved in the local community.
We stock a range of products from Scottish and Scottish-based designers and musicians such as Bonnie Bling, Lisa Donati, Claire Barclay Draws, Owl and Cat, Salsa Celtica, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Treacherous Orchestra and many many more!
The Emporium launched 18 months ago, and it has been a very exciting adventure. We have just reached the finals of the Scottish Independent Retail Awards in Bespoke Catagory which will be announced in May. We have some fantastic (well we think so) ideas on how we can make the Braw Wee even better and contribute more back to this amazing community.
But we need your help through this crowd-funder to raise the funds we require so we can continue and expand!
- The Braw Wee Emporium stocks over 70 individual Scottish makers, designers, and musicians products totalling over 1000 products.
- The Braw Wee Fair is a monthly market within the fantastic covered courtyard of the Barras Art and Design Centre, which hosts over 20 brilliant stalls each month featuring local businesses.
- Braw Wee Pop-Ups are us taking a selection of our fantastic products in the form of a pop-up Emporium to local markets and events such as Glasgow Jazz Festival, Celtic Connections, Urban Market, Byres Road Makers Market and more! We do this to promote the Barras as a shopping destination and encourage shoppers back down for a bargain.
- Braw Wee Online Shop - we have a selection of our products online for shoppers that can't make it to the Barras, this is increasing every week!
- We are committed to promoting the benefits of shopping local and providing our customers with high-quality products at an affordable price which means they can do just that!
- We provide a platform for local designers, makers, and artists to generate a sustainable income through sales and commissions in the area they work and live.
- We have begun to produce our very own Braw Wee Products as a way to promote the Barras and generate income for our many many ideas! We have our 'I heart the Barras', 'Gin' and 'Beer' badges on the go, and we are in the process of designing Barras tote bags in partnership with Graffiti Clothing and postcards (Watch this space!).
The Braw Wee Emporium was set up in late 2014 as a way of making better use of the office space owner Jennifer McGlone had taken on for her other business Glow Arts. It has grown in ways we did not expect, and we are still just a wee team - a part-time staff of two and a family of volunteers (Jennifer's family).
Up until recently Braw Wee has been supported by Jennifer's other work and the generosity of our artists and designers providing the majority of our stock is provided on a sale or return basis. It is now time to turn it into a sustainable business so that we can put some of our grand plans into action! Part of this new adventure is that we are investigating the benefits of becoming a Community Interest Company but there are a couple of immediate investments we need to help us continue.
These are:
- Premises - Securing our unit at Barras Art & Design for the next few months while we build a sustainable income from our various activities by taking over the lease from Glow Arts who no longer need such a large space.
- Stock - Investment in wholesale stock so that we can increase our range of products and more importantly our makers, designers, etc. don't have to wait until we have sold their items before they can recoup the costs and make new products and develop their ranges. It helps us support the fantastic creative community we work with and increases our profit margins so we can sustain ourselves and reinvest the profits in other activities.
Once we have these in place we can look at driving forward our other plans.
- Braw Wee Training - This is a development we are particularly excited about! We have noticed that there is a lack of young traders working in the Barras, and we want to play our part in addressing this. So we will provide local (East End) young women with training in how to set up their retail/ market stalls businesses from the sourcing or production of products, licenses, and insurance, presentation and marketing. They will be guaranteed a pitch at Braw Wee Fairs and where appropriate display space at the Emporium. We will support them to develop their businesses so that they can then take on their regular pitches at the Barras Market.
- Braw Wee Products - We want to invest in equipment and designers who can help us devise a range of products exclusive to the Barras Market such as mugs, jewellery, homewares...the ideas are endless!
- Braw Wee Community - We wish to establish a regular programme of high-quality workshops in music, crafts, and other creative activities for people of all ages. These workshops will range from one-off events to short-term courses.
- Infrastructure - Invest in new displays so that we can increase our range of products and showcase what we do have more effectively, in particular, our music selection. The purchase of receipt printers, credit card machines and scanners to improve our customer experience.