Three best trade stand awards at Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and Lincoln shows for new country interior business Sophie Harmer Home and Design, of Southwell

A young business championing countryside style has taken the top trade stand award at three county shows.

Sophie Harmer Home and Design was founded in March this year, by Southwell-based Sophie Harmer, after she spotted a ‘gap in the market’ for curated countryside inspired décor and gifting.

Sophie designs her own greetings cards, with a focus on rural life, and sells them alongside a curated selection of kitchenware, refurbished furniture, and soft furnishings.

While she doesn’t currently have a physical store, the business operates online, and with a trade stand at countryside shows — where Sophie has already seen great success.

She won Best Trade Stand at Nottinghamshire County Show on May 10, Staffordshire County Show on May 28-29, and Lincolnshire County Show on June 18-19.

“It came as a big surprise, as I’d really only started in March,” Sophie said.

“When I did Nottinghamshire County Show I didn’t know, or even think I was going to win — I didn’t even know they gave awards for this kind of thing.

“With Staffordshire I thought, well I definitely won’t win again. Then I thought I’d have to try at Lincolnshire to get all three.”

Lincolnshire’s show also offered Sophie a chance to sell some bigger items, including a chest of drawers she’d refurbished, which sold to the first people to look at it, and an oak chair which Sophie said sold ‘almost instantly’.

She added: “I thought there’s a bit of a gap in the market for country interiors, and the shows attract all kinds of rural people like farmers — it’s a market for everyone I think would like that style.

“I sold my greetings cards and prints which I design, and then also things I buy in to complement them, such as mugs and tea towels.

“Eventually I want to get to the point of putting my own designs on the mugs and other items.”

Sophie will be hoping to continue her streak of show successes, with stands at RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse in July, and Chatsworth Country Fair in August.

In September she’ll be closer to home, with a trade stand at Southwell Ploughing Match.