OUR STORY:

​

​The Trove Cambridge was first launched by Stephanie Stott (née Freeman) in October 2013 as a personal blog. Over seven years she has developed the concept of this platform and dedicated her time to networking with the local creative community and seeing her ideas and passion for supporting the art, design and handmade industries realised.

 

• 2014: We started to use and promote the community hashtag #CambsCreativeTreasures on Instagram which just hit 16,500+ shares
   

• 2018: We launched a trial membership offer for local artists, designers and makers seeing 70 members sign up in the first year
   

• 2019: We looked into growing our online presence — as well as other ways of sharing our message across Cambridgeshire
   

• 2020: We ran a successful crowdfunding campaign through NatWest's Back Her Business programme during which we received a start-up grant and were one of 25 winners to receive a cash prize in their Bring It 2020 competition. Through this project, which was backed by 121 supporters in just 36 days, we launched a new membership offer and welcomed our first Cambridgeshire business sponsor CMR. We also curated a series of rewards featuring high-quality prints and products from five local artists; this included our first limited edition 'Treasures Box' based on the theme 'Books & Bikes' — a celebration of our beautiful city Cambridge
   

• 2020: We continued to share our discoveries and promote the local creative scene through the #CambsCreativeScene Online blog which was re-designed. We also sent out the first issue of 'The Hub Newsletter' — our e-newsletter with a round-up of latest news and updates
   

• 2020: We hosted the June #ShopCambridgeshire Virtual Showcase event to help support local artists, designers, makers and independent businesses who had been affected by closures and event cancellations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the success of the showcase event, we have since launched a permanent marketplace page and continue to connect buyers with local businesses by promoting the #ShopCambridgeshire hashtag — which is still buzzing with new activity a year later and has hit 6,000+ shares
   

• 2021: Plans for this year include the launch of our new 'Members Hub' area and our online shop where we will be stocking a series of lovingly curated high-quality gift boxes. After having to delay our initial plans due to closures in 2020, we are also aiming to publish the first edition of #CambsCreativeScene magazine. This project is in collaboration with one of our members, Cambridge-based illustrator, graphic designer and printmaker Dario Fisher. If you are interested in supporting this venture, get in touch to find out about our sponsorship and advertising packages — please email us via: magazine@thetrovecambridge.co.uk