At The British Emporium, we sell only one kind of product: British made. From beautifully crafted tableware and hand-stitched leather goods to artist-signed wall art and grooming essentials, every item we offer reflects the skill, heritage, and creativity that have long defined Great Britain’s reputation for quality.
But in a marketplace crowded with vague labels and misleading claims, what exactly do we mean by ‘British Made’? Is it simply a matter of where a product is finished? Or does it go deeper – into the making, the materials, and the hands behind the craft?
Over the past thirty years or so, retail buyers in Britain have steadily moved their product sourcing overseas, to obtain higher margins through cheaper and often poorer quality alternatives. We have become increasingly dismayed by labelling intended to give the ‘impression’ that these products are still being made in Britain. Typical misleading phases used by many iconic brands include: “Designed in Britain “, “British Heritage”, “Great British Design”, “British Innovation”. Confusingly, many of these brands make liberal use of the Union Jack, the application of which sadly is not restricted in any way.
In this post, we share what ‘British Made’ truly means to us, why it matters, and how it shapes everything we do – from choosing our suppliers to creating our own collections. Because for us, it’s not just a label. It’s a commitment to integrity, provenance, and the makers whose skill and passion shape every product.
How It All Started
In 2018 my wife Julie and I bought a long established giftware shop in Bakewell, Derbyshire. It came with a range of imported goods – many of them big sellers with tempting margins. But there was a problem: we didn’t take any joy in selling them. They were not badly made, but they weren’t well made either. And they certainly didn’t align with our values or what we believe customers deserve.
In past roles, we had both worked closely with British manufacturers and knew first-hand the care and craftsmanship they put into their work. So, we began to rebuild our product offering around those very makers – the ones who had survived shifting trends, offshoring, and cheap competition. The shift was gradual at first, but over time, our shelves transformed. And so did our business. . We decided we needed to commit fully to our ideals and so made a significant investment in rebranding. In March 2022 we refitted and relaunched our store as The British Emporium, selling only products genuinely made here.
A Showcase for British Talent
Our mission is to be a shop window for Britain’s exceptional makers. Great Britain has long held a reputation for innovation, design, and manufacturing excellence – and it’s not just about heritage. We proudly stock products that reflect our rich traditions and the vibrancy of contemporary British design.
Today, we proudly represent over 100 domestic manufacturers, the majority of which are small family concerns. Many produce bespoke items just for us. Whether it’s a humble pencil or a hand forged sculpture, each piece we sell has a story and a standard behind it.
Authenticity
When we say British Made, we don’t mean a product that has simply passed through Britain. For us, it must have undergone a substantive change on British soil. For example; if a company imports a hide of leather and turns it into a pair of shoes, we consider those shoes to be made in Great Britain. Not every raw material or component is available in Great Britain, sometimes because the industry has sadly been lost or perhaps because it is not grown or extracted here. We will always strive to make such circumstances as clear as possible to our customers.
There are many products in the marketplace that at first glance seem to be made here but would not satisfy our criteria; for example, we often see ceramics labelled “Decorated in Great Britain”; if a mug is imported and the final decoration is done here – the product came into the country as a mug and after decoration it is still a mug – so we would not be satisfied that it was wholly made in Great Britain.
That distinction matters.
It speaks to the heart of British craftsmanship – the designing, shaping, manufacturing, assembling, stitching, finishing – the making that turns raw materials into something remarkable. We see a mug that was merely decorated in Britain as a missed opportunity. We want the whole journey to happen here.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grow, our goal is simple: to become the leading retail showcase for British manufacturing. We believe in the skills of the people of Great Britain, and we’re here to champion them – one beautiful, functional, expertly crafted item at a time.
Welcome to The British Emporium.
Where every product is proudly, and truly, British Made.
