18-19 Robertson Street, Hastings, TN34 1HL

HASTINGS STORE CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES

From 18 Nov, opening times will be as follows:
Mon 10am-5pm
Tue 10am-5pm
Wed 10am-5pm
Thu 10am-5pm (until 7pm on 5, 12, 19 Dec)
Fri 10am-5pm
Sat 11am-4pm
Sun 11am-4pm 

Over the holiday period, opening times will be as follows:
Christmas Eve Tue 10am-4pm
Christmas Day Wed CLOSED
Boxing Day Thu CLOSED
Fri 27 CLOSED
Sat 28 10am-4pm
Sun 29 CLOSED
Mon 30 10am-5pm
Tue 31 CLOSED
Wed 1 Jan CLOSED

Then back to normal opening hours from Thu 2 Jan:
Mon CLOSED
Tue 10am-4.30pm
Wed 10am-4.30pm
Thu 10am-4.30pm
Fri 10am-4.30pm
Sat 11am-4pm
Sun CLOSED

OUR BELOVED HASTINGS STORE IS BACK OPEN!

We have lots of goodies for you to browse, touch, try on, smell and enjoy. Our new open-plan layout gives a glimpse of what goes on in the studio space behind the store. We've used lots of recycled materials and furniture to decorate the space, hoping to create a spacious, homely and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers. So please do come and visit us if you can - we are thrilled to welcome you back!

THE STORY OF OUR STORE

It has been a hectic few years at AQ HQ. Like everyone, our 2020 was dominated by the demands of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our wholesale business collapsed overnight. Travel to Nepal went out of the window. International freight and the postal and courier services upon which we depend were thrown into chaos - as were our small team who were home-schooling 8 children between them! We were forced to take strategic risks to try to protect the livelihoods of our artisans. But something amazing happened: customers actively sought out and supported small businesses and their local high streets, helping AURA QUE and most of our stockists to survive those incredibly difficult times. We are truly thankful.

In 2021 we brought our warehousing back in-house. Our reasons for this included the ability to work towards more sustainable packaging; to provide a more personal service to our customers, such as optional gift wrapping; and to gain more control over dispatch deadlines and reuniting customers with any errant packages! Having survived our first Christmas back managing our own fulfilment after many years, 2022 brought the new opportunity - and challenge - of moving out of our separate studio and warehouse and moving EVERYTHING into one premises on the high street in Hastings. Somehow without disrupting the daily dispatch to our online customers.

In September 2022, we opened our Hastings high street store: a significant milestone in our ambitions to connect customers with the materials and traditional techniques that go into their products, and to the people that make them. We learned a lot in our first eighteen months on the high street, adapting and changing as we went. Laura connected with local business leaders in the Trinity Triangle, and we embraced being part of this up-and-coming district.

Then disaster struck: our building was unexpectedly sold by auction - not once, but twice - in November and February 2024. We nearly lost our premises, unable to find a suitable alternative as the due date for Laura's baby girl loomed. Dealing with our first new landlord, an international property developer who tried to disregard our lease, was a difficult and stressful time. We are very grateful for legal advice from local solicitor whizz Illian, and the support from Jess and Jon from Hastings Commons, both of which helped Laura to fight our corner and stay as per our lease. Now our second (and current) new landlords have confirmed we can stay at the premises until the end of 2024. We don’t know for how long it will be, but we’re excited to see all of you in person again!

Our team continues to change and grow. With Baby Etta now safely arrived in March 2024, Laura continues to strive for that elusive work-life balance!