It was August 2011, and Luke and I were busy juggling full-time jobs and maintaining our growing hobby. Our ‘hobby’ seemed to be taking on a life of its own and was becoming rather popular with Greenwich market visitors.

We were hopeful that one day, Valentte would become a proper business. We didn’t have a plan of how to get there. We did what we enjoyed, and every day hoped and dreamed Valentte would become more than just a hobby.

One summer’s day, I stood behind my little market stand full of handmade bars of soap packed in tiny purple boxes. Two girls walked up to me, introduced themselves and started pitching this fantastic three-day event to me– that event was the Ideal Home show Christmas Fair at Earls Court (in London).

Honestly, I could hardly concentrate on what they were saying because it sounded too good to be true! I was so excited about their proposal and couldn’t wait to call Luke to share this amazing opportunity:

‘’We are doing Ideal Home Show Christmas!’’ – I screamed at Luke down the phone the minute two girls left my stand.

We climb the mountain, not in giant leaps but one small step at a time.

-Justina, Co-Founder and Creative Director