Dandy shop offers something for all

NEW SHOP: Sharyl Skipsey, co-owner of Dandilion, a Featherston store specialising in jewellery, art, plus retro film and TV merchandise. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Science fiction figures comfortably join stylish jewellery in Fitzherbert St

A store combining jewellery and artwork with cult science fiction and action nostalgia is among Featherston's minor revival in new retail shops.

Dandilion, on Fitzherbert St, is a husband-and-wife team, with Sharyl Skipsey showcasing her jewellery and artwork, while hubby Lee Scott provides the action figures, comics and retro film and TV merchandising.

Ms Skipsey said they have been open for three weeks and feedback has been great.

Her jewellery brand, Flame Red, has been an out-of-home, on-line product for about six years, but then the couple saw the retail space come up.

"I saw this was available and thought, yeah," said Ms Skipsey. "I rung Lee, said, there's a space. I just went for it.

"I'd been thinking about it for a wee while, but with the supermarket opening, and seeing what was going on with the rest of the town ..."

The shop opened four weeks later.

As well as her pendants, Ms Skipsey creates artworks with decoupage, gluing comic pages and artworks from books onto canvases.

But when it comes to comics, Mr Scott has the real stuff, including a large collection of Phantom comics.

One side of the shop is devoted to science fiction, James Bond merchandise, novels and board games.

"We'll have the big three - Dr Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, and we're getting some other movie merchandise.

"Lee works in the film industry. It's his passion."

She said feedback from customers has been really good.

"We're a little bit off the street, so people come in, and they're really surprised."

She said they moved to Featherston from Wellington six years ago.

"The prices were attractive, and we just liked it.

"We like living in a small town, like the community feel.

"Because I work from home, I could work from anywhere."

Dandilion is open from Wednesday to Sunday.