OUR FAVOURITE SHOP
Head to Winchester for an elegant emporium of covetable Homeware and perfect presents
Do all your Christmas shopping in one go at Forme
Hidden away on a sleepy Winchester side street, Forme is the premier gift boutique for locals in the know. We sat down with Andrew Butling, a second-generation member of the family-led team, to find out more… What inspired you to open
forme? My family moved here from Italy in 1997. Unable to find the choice and quality of lighting and furnishings they were used to, they imported items from Italy for their new home. When they continued importing goods, Forme was born. HOW Would you describe forme’s style? There’s always a sense of elegance and refinement but also fun. Life’s too short not to have fun. are there any unique touches to your shop? Forme is almost unique in that we gift wrap every item we sell. We have literally hundreds of different ribbons and decorations, which we have great fun using to make packages our customers love. They tell us all the time that ‘they look too good to open’. At Christmas they often come in, pick out gifts for the whole family and leave them with us to be wrapped while they go for coffee or pop back the next day. They return to find everything as pretty as a picture and ready to go under the tree – you don’t get that kind of service shopping online! WHO visits your shop? We are tucked away just off the high street so you have to know we are here. Consequently, most of our customers – many of whom feel like old friends – call us their secret shop and have been coming to see us for almost 20 years. any favourite products? My favourite pieces right now would have to be from our Baroque pearl jewellery collection. They’re all beautifully designed, exquisite quality and completely unique. What else do you guys do? Forme the shop is really only the tip of the iceberg as we also have an interior design business. Over the years we have enjoyed working for both private and commercial clients on projects ranging from cottages in the surrounding countryside to entire boutique hotels as far afield as Jersey. FORME, 69 PARCHMENT STREET, WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE SO23 8AT, 01962 842320, FORMEONLINE.CO.UK.