Our Story
Our story began in 2012 as a 6-week project on Winchester Street Market. The vibrancy and diversity of The King’s City was amazing, and 6 weeks turned into more than 5 years!
In 2018, due to a debilitating health condition, I could no longer manage long market days, so I swapped my market stall for bricks and mortar and with a team of amazing ladies to help me, we traded from a ‘pop up’ shop in Brockenhurst High Street, under the name of “Beyond the Skin Handbags”. Even the ponies would stop for a browse!
The shop was originally only going to be running for 6 weeks, but due to delays by the planning department we remained there and enjoyed Brockenhurst for 7 months. Our old shop is now Commoners Wine Bar, and we would highly recommend them!
In April 2019 we moved venue and ‘popped up’ once more, this time at 59 High Street, Lyndhurst and enjoyed a fantastic year in this amazing and welcoming village.
When our license to trade ended, there really was only ‘one way’ to go and we moved next door just as Covid forced the first national lockdown in April 2020, preventing us from properly opening the shop until July.
Four months later in October 2020 we signed the lease for our second shop in the thriving market town of Ringwood and were promptly locked down in November for a second time due to Covid. We opened properly in December and enjoyed a spectacular welcome before being locked down again between January and April 2021.
In November 2021, we decided to re-brand to enable us to expand our offering to include clothing, shoes, jewellery and so much more! The name Sassy’s felt appropriate as one of its meanings is “Bold & Spirited” which is exactly what we were during the tumultuous times of Covid and crisis!
Just three months later in February 2022, we had the amazing opportunity to take a third shop in Milford on Sea and we opened our doors with a brand-new team of ladies just a month later in March.
Towards the end of 2022 we began discussions for a “test venture” which gave a new business owner the opportunity to trade under our brand name. Sassy’s Usk opened in March 2023 as a pop-up shop and our aim is to set this business owner up to win! Watch this space to see how this develops!
By now we realised that people in Hampshire and on holiday in Hampshire love Sassy's and people in Usk loved us too. We knew that more people would love Sassy's if only we could bring our brand to them and so here we are - third and final attempt at Sassy's online! We hope you like it and would love to hear what you think! Launched in 2023 our online shop aims to bring the same Sassy's style, service and spirit to all!