The little crystal shop in Richmond promoting mental wellbeing

Charlotte Rose, 22, opened Lottie’s Little Shop on Chantry Wind in July 2024 after starting her business online at the end of 2019.

She said: “I was looking for stuff to help with my mental health. I went through counselling and other things, but nothing really helped. I then reached out to the spiritual community and they really took me in and helped me.

“I started making jewellery to distract myself and then I got properly into crystals. It really helped with my mental health and I thought ‘if it is going to help me, it is going to help other people as well’.

Charlotte opened her physical store in July 2024 (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“I made my business to help people like me because at the time there was not really anyone my age into crystals.”

The 22-year-old revealed she was inspired to start the shop by a Darlington business.

She said: “When Guru closed, that was a big loss for the crystal community. I used to buy my crystals from there in college and I always went into their space and felt so safe and welcomed. I wanted to create a space like that because of how it made me feel, I wanted to give that to others.”

Lottie’s Crystal Corner (Image: STUART BOULTON)

The young business owner said she originally wanted to be a criminal psychologist and went to university after her mental health improved, but dropped out in her second year.

Charlotte then worked at Jo Malone, which she says gave her the retail experience she did not know she needed and motivated her to open the shop.

And Charlotte has had a lot of support along the way.

Lottie’s Little Shop (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“My best friend James, who I met in college, motivated me non-stop. He helped paint the shop and was a big factor,” she said.

“I also would not have been able to do this without my mum. She had been telling me to open a shop ever since I started my business.”

Charlotte also said she was inspired by another Richmond shop to launch her own store.

She said: “I went into Serendipity on my 20th birthday and was given a crystal for good luck. The shop did not really sell crystals, and she did not know who I was at that point.

Some of the crystals on display in Lottie’s Crystal Corner (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“I also took this as a sign to open a shop, which I did a year later. We are now really close.”

Charlotte, who was born in Australia and has lived in Darlington and Richmond, said she gets her crystals from countries such as Brazil and India. She said they are all ethically sourced and support small family businesses. She also stocks other “quirky oddities”.

Charlotte said opening the store had always been a dream.

 “I had to ground myself because it did not feel real. The support I got from the Richmond community was just unbelievable,” she explained.

Charlotte said she had to “ground” herself when she opened her shop (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“After nearly two years, I am still in shock. People come in and open themselves up to me and I cannot thank people enough for putting that trust in me. It is so nice to see I am actually helping.”

The young business owner also her work is her livelihood, not her job.

“I would not even say this is working because it is not a job, it is my livelihood. I go to work, which I do not see as work,” she said.

“The people around me are incredible. I am next to Rustique and they took me under their wing. It is like going to see my friends, it is crazy I can say that and I am so grateful.”

The business owner also said the community is the best part about Richmond.

The store is located on Chantry Wynd, Finkle Street (Image: STUART BOULTON)

She said: “Not just the public, but the businesses around me. As soon as I opened, I got a card from Trinity, the clothes shop. I got a card from the post office next to me, and everyone came in and welcomed me.

“It was unbelievable because I felt I was so shy. I thought I did not belong at first and then as soon as I opened, everyone was so friendly. I attracted the best people and I am just so grateful.”

Charlotte is now giving back to the community.

Charlotte said the Richmond community were extremely welcoming when she opened her store (Image: STUART BOULTON)

She said: “I am also a little famous for doing my crystal hunts around Richmond. This is where I hide a free crystal every week in the summer months to give back to the community. The people find them and tag me on Facebook.”

And Charlotte has spoken of the importance of supporting and continuing to support independent businesses.

One of the many crystals Charlotte stocks in her shop (Image: STUART BOULTON)

She said: “It is important that we support, small, independent businesses because we have got more to pay for than the bigger businesses.

“Tesco for example, they will not care if you spend £3 pound there, whereas if you spend £3 in an independent’s shop, it is massive for us.

“People might not think we do not care if it is only £3, they spend but it is unbelievable people want to shop with us. It is so important.”