Wesley - Barrall, Armstrong Ward

Our favourite brands include John Sankey, Emma Bridgewater, Maileg and Neom. They are complemented by new and innovative ranges for our customers to chance upon. Over 15 years, we’ve grown from a start-up with 35 supplier products on sale across one floor, to a two-storey emporium of 200 — makers with a cafe and a busy online store for those who can’t make it to Kendal. Andrew and I returned to Cumbria when our son was 18 months old. We wanted him to have a rural childhood with family close by. Full of energy, and a big dollop of naivety, we pooled our retail and product development experience and opened our doors in October 2005. Now we are well into our second decade of trading, we still love and get a buzz from sourcing new products. What we are most proud of, though, is the loyalty, friendship and sense of community that has grown within the shop. Armstrong Ward is known as a place where homes, family and friends are celebrated, and that’s what truly sets us apart.