A home interior and gift store has been named as one of the most innovative independent stores in the UK.

Cositas, based in Holywell Hill in St Albans, has been handpicked from a list of 1,000 stores to feature in ‘Remarkable Retailers’.

Only founded in 2017 by Emma Bustamante, Cositas has impressed with its approach to customer experience.

She said: “At Cositas we live and breathe design, both in the products we stock and the models we allow our customers to create. While we’re a relatively young business, we’ve enjoyed sharing our interior know-how with the people of St Albans and Hertfordshire.

“We’re proud to be recognised for our innovative approach to retail, and we believe there’s an opportunity for more independents to engage their local communities and provide activities like our workshops. We’ve found customers love learning something new and having something unique to take home after.”

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Cositas’ customer workshops mean it is a creative hub within St Albans, providing a substantial calendar of opportunities for locals to learn skills such as screen printing and lampshade making. The store is an example of the ‘retail-tainment’ model which is revolutionising the high street.

The shortlist of 14 stores was drawn up by Vend and the British Independent Retail Association (Bira).