The face behind the shop

Jersey has a great selection of independent boutiques, but do you know who owns them? Here are a few of the faces behind our local shops

Charlie Van de Ruyter

ChiChi Boutique

Being creative and having an eye for detail, Charlie started her career as a visual merchandiser. Charlie says she's always been a risk taker and in 2009 she took the plunge and opened her own boutique in St Aubins. Travelling around Asia and India gave Charlie the taste for one off pieces and unique designs whilst recycling and selling her travelling finds at car boots gave her the confidence and experience in sales. At ChiChi you'll find an array of pieces to suit most styles. The main theme throughout the boutique is stylish, bohemian and quirky with accessories and jewellery to liven up the most basic outfit. In the summer you'll find kaftans, maxi dresses and holiday-wear all in bold prints and colours. Over the winter you'll find everything you need for the cooler months including hats, scarves and gloves, chunky knitwear, coats and boots.

It isn't all about clothes though, you'll also come across one off gifts, stationery and greeting cards.

When Charlie isn't working she enjoys listening to music, spending time with her family and going on adventures with her daughter.

ChiChi Boutique

St

Aubins

01534 490021

Sam Gaudin The Gooseberry Bush

Sam Gaudin is a qualified Nursery Nurse NNEB with over 10 years of nursery education, in between having her own children, including running a Pre-school for 5 years.

Sam worked with her mother running The Gooseberry Bush at First Tower, taking over the reins 10 years ago when she retired. The shop then moved to Rondels Farm and expanded.

Sam says she is inspired by her customers; listening and watching what they do with the lovely pieces in their homes inspires her to create a look that is both Nordic and contemporary.

When she isn't working or looking for goodies for the shop, her hobbies include Pilates, her grown-up family and travelling (when permitted!).

The Gooseberry Bush

Rondels Farm, Trinity 01534 726224

Matt Harris Hapi Lifestyle

Hapi was born out of a love for island living; fresh sea air and enjoying the beautiful beaches and water that surrounds us. Hapi is made up of 2 stores that face each other in Liberty Wharf. The original store is made up of lifestyle brands like Animal, Billabong, Hey Dude, Mustang, Havaianas and the second store is dedicated to running and fitness ON Running, Oofos, Brooks, Lurv sport, Goldbergh, Stance.

Matt has always been interested in setting up his own projects and working for himself. Before Hapi, he and a best buddy had a business called Thrones, a luxury portable toilet business.

Hapi is continually evolving as Matt tries to create not just a shopping experience but a destination. They offer a 'try before you buy' with ON running shoes, enabling customers to not only try them on but take them out for a few days or a lap around the block.

Outside of work, Matt loves all sports but especially sports that enable him to escape from the day to day ups and downs, like surfing and running. 'I have been in the sea every day for the last 7 months, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Jersey lends itself to the outdoors and we are truly lucky in what we have around us.'

Hapi, LibertyWharf

01534 498057