Dolly & Co | Shop In-store at Makers Emporium, Rotherham

This one feels like a really big milestone for Dolly & Co.

You may already have spotted a small Dolly & Co collection at Rain Rescue’s shop in Misson, but this is something a little different.

Dolly & Co now has its very own retail space inside Makers Emporium in Rotherham. 

This is a little space I can style, stock and keep updating myself, which means I can regularly add new products, switch things around and keep it feeling fresh.

Seeing it all set up for the first time was a very surreal moment.

A Little Dolly & Co Shop of Our Own

Markets have played a huge part in growing Dolly & Co, and I absolutely love doing them. But because of my health, I can’t always be at a market every weekend or commit to as many events as I might like.

That’s one of the reasons this space means so much.

Makers Emporium gives Dolly & Co a permanent little home where people can still discover the brand, browse our products and shop with us even when I’m not able to be standing behind a market stall.

For me personally, it also gives me something really positive to focus on and build: a space I can keep developing at my own pace, a place to try new things, and hopefully another way for Dolly & Co to become part of the Rotherham community.

Doing Things The Dolly Way

A big part of Dolly & Co has become what I call The Dolly Way.

For me, that means doing things with a little more heart. Supporting local. Creating things carefully rather than rushing. Building a business in a way that works around real life, rather than pretending everything has to be perfect all the time.

And remembering that sometimes the smaller moments matter just as much as the big ones.

This new space feels very much like The Dolly Way. It gives me somewhere I can build slowly, change things when I need to, connect with local people and keep creating even when my health means I have to work differently.

It isn’t about having the biggest shop or doing everything at once. It’s about creating something that feels like us.

Building Something Local

Dolly & Co has always been about more than just selling dog accessories.

I love the idea of building something rooted here in Rotherham and Yorkshire — working with local businesses, supporting other independents, meeting local dog owners and creating products that actually feel connected to where we’re from.

That’s something I really want to grow through the Makers Emporium space.

I want it to become somewhere people can pop back to and regularly find something new. Some things will be familiar Dolly & Co favourites. Some will be seasonal. Some might be a little experimental.

And there is also something very big and very local currently being created behind the scenes… 👀

I’m keeping that one quiet for now. But when it lands in the shop, you’ll definitely know about it.

What Will You Find There?

I want the Makers Emporium space to feel like a mini version of Dolly & Co.

You’ll find a changing selection of dog accessories, gifts, little treats for dog mums and some of the more quirky pieces we create.

There may also be products there that aren’t available online yet, along with limited pieces and locally inspired designs.

Our collars and walking accessories are represented in store too, so you can see and feel them properly before ordering.

Because we make them in different colours, widths, sizes and styles — including personalised options — the full choice will still be available through our website, take a look at our handmade waterproof collars and leads.

Made to Keep Changing

One of the things I’m most excited about is being able to keep updating the space.

If I make something new, I can take it down. If something sells well, I can bring more. If I have an idea for a seasonal collection, I can completely change a shelf.

It gives me somewhere to experiment, introduce new products and see what local customers are drawn to — without having to wait for the next market day.

And because I’m managing the space myself, it can grow alongside Dolly & Co.

For a small business like mine, that feels huge.

Supporting Small and Shopping Local

Another reason Makers Emporium felt like such a good fit is that Dolly & Co sits alongside lots of other independent makers and small businesses.

Behind every shelf is somebody designing, making, packing, creating and trying to build something of their own.

There’s a real community feel to that.

And I’d love Dolly & Co to play a part in encouraging people to shop local, discover more independent businesses and see just how much creativity there is right here in Rotherham.

That feels very much like The Dolly Way too: supporting people, celebrating the little things, keeping things local where we can, and building something with a bit of heart behind it.

From the Kitchen Table to a Shop

There have been a lot of little moments behind Dolly & Co that nobody really sees: the ideas that don’t work, the products I remake because I’m not happy with them, the late-night Canva sessions, the markets, the boxes everywhere, and the constant “I’ve just had another idea…” 😂

There have also been times when my health has meant I’ve had to slow down or change plans.

So having something like this — a space that can keep growing even when I need to work around what my body will let me do — feels particularly special.

Standing back and seeing a proper Dolly & Co display inside a shop was one of those moments where I thought: We actually did this.

It might only be one little space inside Makers Emporium, but to me it represents how far this little business has already come.

And we’re definitely not finished yet.

If you’re local to Rotherham, pop into Makers Emporium and have a look at our space.

I’ll be regularly adding new products and changing things around, so there should always be something new to discover.

And keep an eye on that space because there is a rather exciting local collection currently taking shape behind the scenes… 👀

Thank you to everyone who has bought from me, visited a stall, shared a post, recommended Dolly & Co or simply followed along.

From online orders and market stalls… to our very own little retail space in Rotherham.

That one means a lot. 🤍🐾

See our stockist page for further details.

Refined • Curated • Paws.
Doing things The Dolly Way.