A brand new trader has opened up a unit in Preston Box Market.
Crescent Liverpool, which offers luxury bath products, was recently created by Jordan Smith after he recovered from a mental health breakdown.
Jordan said: “I’ve been out of work for the best part of a decade due to mental health issues including panic attacks, agoraphobia and depression.
“Early this year I had a severe breakdown, and thankfully my family got to me before I attempted to take my own life. After going back on medication and a long recovery I decided to try and get my life in order.
“I’ve always traded on eBay and wanted to run a business. I spent some months working out what to do. One night I was getting a bath and I remembered that my girlfriend had bought me a Beatles Yellow Submarine bath bomb, so I tried it. I thought it was brilliant until she told me the cost.
“The idea of a teacher – like my partner – or a nurse, etc. coming home after a long day and having to debate if they can use their £14.99 bath bomb and £8 soap now or save it for a special occasion seemed wrong to me.
“So it kind of started from there. I wanted to do luxury products that working people could afford. Our products are high quality, real luxury items but we don’t over inflate the price like others.”
Jordan is currently selling soaps, bath bombs and wax melts from his Box Market unit, and is working on creating new products including candles, diffusers and shampoo bars. Every item is handmade by Jordan. Products are 100% vegan with no paraffin and no SLS, and come in environmentally-friendly packaging.
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Due to Jordan’s issues with mental health he has decided to give a percentage of his profits to Samaritans and Whitechapel, a homeless charity in Liverpool.
He said: “I spoke to Samaritans for a few hours the night I was suicidal. I’m also giving to Whitechapel because, without my family as a safety net, I would have been homeless myself.
“We donate 5 per cent profit from every sale, 10 per cent from gift sets and 20 per cent from Ribbon Charity bar soaps.”
Although Jordan is from Liverpool he fell in love with Preston after visiting for a recent Makers Market.
He said: “I came to Preston for the Makers Market and although the rain and wind made us cancel within an hour, we sold lots of products and met lovely people. I was also blown away by Preston Market, mostly the architecture. I don’t know why it isn’t promoted more.
“I came to Preston a few weeks later and viewed a shop in the market – it was only my second time ever in the city. I loved it so much I got the ball rolling about renting the shop.”
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Crescent Liverpool’s initial opening times are 10am to 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday, but they are subject to change. Follow Crescent Liverpool on Instagram for updates.
Will you be shopping at Crescent Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below.