I grew up on the Canadian prairies, hitchhiked around Europe selling my own handmade jewellery, and once brought a narrowboat all the way from Birmingham to Hackney. Making things has always been part of who I am.
Years ago, a trip to the Brooklyn Flea got me thinking differently about lighting. Then I visited a wonderful little shop called Agapanthus in Stockport, and that really sealed the deal. These days, you'll find my lights dotted all around Stanley Road Store, made from whatever bits and pieces happen to catch my eye.
Opening Stanley Road wasn't really planned, but somehow it felt inevitable. I'd been running Lost & Foundry, supporting independent artists and makers, while taking Stanley Road Store to markets and pop-ups. Eventually, I wanted a permanent home for all the things I loved. Not a shop built around a business plan, but around creativity, curiosity and the things that make people smile.
Today, it's become an independent gift shop in Brighton, filled with artist-made gifts, handmade homeware, jewellery, prints, clothing and Brighton souvenirs... along with all those wonderfully weird things you never knew you needed. One of my favourite things is that the shop is always changing.
New makers arrive, boxes get opened with everyone crowding around to see what's inside, and the shelves get moved about more often than they probably should. We also love sharing our favourite wonderfully weird finds in our 5 Weird Finds videos on Instagram, so there's always something new to discover.
We're proudly dog-friendly too. Every Friday we crown a Dog of the Week, and if their owner spots them in our newsletter and gets in touch, we send them a voucher for our online shop. It's become one of my favourite Stanley Road traditions.
Throughout the year, we host exhibitions, product launches, maker events and creative evenings—anything that's a good excuse to bring artists, makers and creative folk together.
As the shop's grown, I've definitely not done it alone. Sylwia, our Store Manager, is completely my right and left hand. Basia, our Deputy Manager, has helped shape so much of what Stanley Road has become, including building our brilliant website, and my sister Clare quietly takes care of onboarding and all the behind-the-scenes organisation that keeps everything running. I'm incredibly lucky to have them.
If you're visiting Brighton and looking for an independent gift shop that's a little bit different, come and have a browse. Whether you leave with a present, a Brighton keepsake, a great chat or just a "did you see that?" story, then we've probably done our job. And if your dog ends up being Dog of the Week, even better.
5 Thing You Might Not Know About Maxine
1. She grew up on the Canadian Prairies.
Maxine spent her childhood surrounded by wide open landscapes before eventually making Brighton her creative home.
2. A trip to Brooklyn inspired her lighting.
Many years ago, a visit to the Brooklyn Flea sparked her imagination. That inspiration was cemented by a stop at the wonderful Agapanthus lighting shop in Stockport.
3. She brought a narrowboat from Birmingham to Hackney.
One of Maxine's biggest adventures was travelling the canals all the way to East London.
4. She hitchhiked around Europe selling her handmade jewellery.
Long before Stanley Road, Maxine travelled across Europe, funding her adventures by making and selling her own jewellery along the way.
5. She has a passion for supporting independent makers.
Through Stanley Road Store and Lost and Foundry, Maxine loves introducing customers to talented artists, designers and small creative businesses.