Business soon to celebrate two years open at Northampton garden centre and still houses nearly 50 crafters
An innovative business is soon to celebrate two years open at a Northampton garden centre, and is proud to still house nearly 50 independent crafters and traders under one roof.
The Shack, which opened at Woodmeadow Garden Centre in March 2024, began with 31 traders and has continued to increase its capacity.
The venture was founded by Karen Akhtar, who wanted to give independent crafters the opportunity to rent a space and sell their goods from The Shack.
Karen ran a stall called The Little Magic Room but wanted somewhere she could work from one place. When she found out the space at the garden centre was available, The Shack was born.
The shop has always been bursting at the seams and Karen assures customers they will never see the same thing twice at The Shack, making for a quirky experience.
The aim was, and still is, for The Shack to become the go-to location for people to purchase gifts of all kinds – as well as creating a welcoming place to be.
When asked how it feels that the business is nearing two years open and will celebrate the milestone on March 1, Karen said: “We’re very happy with it and surprised at the number of customers who keep coming back and really support us. It’s a massive thing.”
The business’ workshops are starting to take off and there are lots of events planned for later this year, including a psychic experience and a dog show.
More people visited The Shack in 2025 than ever before and Karen says she was optimistic coming into 2026. With more stores set to open at Woodmeadow Garden Centre, she is hopeful there will be higher footfall and more newbies who discover The Shack.
When asked what she believes sets the business apart from others, Karen said: “There’s a really good atmosphere and everyone’s happy. We hopefully solve lots of people’s problems. If we don’t have something, we can find a crafter who can make it. This happened over Christmas.”
The celebration event to mark the two-year anniversary is being hosted on March 1, with free parking and admission for everyone in attendance.
Visitors can enjoy craft stalls, food and drink available in the tearoom, face painting, spring plants available to purchase, line dances, and performances from Razzle Dazzle Dance Troupe and the Northampton Morris Dancers.
Karen hopes it will be a fun day out for all the family and welcomes new and returning faces to mark the milestone with her.