21 things you probably never knew about map gift shop

map gift shop are 21 this year!  To celebrate our birthday here are 21 random facts about us that you probably didn't know.

1. Ian and Kathryn met at Loughborough College of Art in 1983 

an early brainstorming session  -  it most definitely is  not  a lounging around on the floor watching "neighbours" and drinking Boddingtons session.

2. Before setting up MAP, Ian designed a Jacket for David Fielden eveningwear which was worn by Rachel Hunter

3.  Ian had a stall at Camden Market in it's hey day back in the 1980's, this photo in his fabulous 80's pomp features in Caitlin Davies book Camden Lock and the Market!  

Picture is taken from Caitlin Davies - Camden Lock & the Market 

4. Kathryn painted a backdrop of Judy Garland for a music video in the late 80's

5.  We were originally  M.A.P. our very first design range was picked up by Terence Conran at our first trade fair and went on to become our number 1 best selling iconic "sun"  range selling internationally in all the best stores.

Photo from Period Living October 1993

6.  We followed this range up with "Petits Mots" designed exclusively for The Conran Shop. 

"Petit Mots" China exclusively for The Conran Shop

It's interesting that after 20 years the feature from World of Interiors 1994, showing our range and the trend of Typography and Script at the time, could easily be from any current Interior Magazine in 2014!

*7. MAP collaborated with Liberty of London on a range to celebrate the re-opening of Shakespeare's Globe on Bankside in 1997 

8.  MAP's original home on Junction Road is now the fabulous La Belle Vie Flower Shop at 165, run by Sam and Sevgi.  We relocated to our current home number 93 in 2000.

9.   MAP started a Residents and Traders organisation in 1995 which preceded the current Archway Town Centre Management Group.  One of their early successes was to raise funds for Christmas lights for Archway - A now annual tradition that Islington have kept going.

10.   MAP launched a range of Toiletries in 1998 which proved hugely successful and featured on the cover Liberty's best Christmas gift guide in the same year.

11.  We have a green certification and are energy efficient. In 2012 we changed 60+ bulbs in our shop, helping to make Archway a Low Carbon Zone, saving 5.34 tonnes of CO2 and hopefully a few pounds too!

12.   Ian locked our old corner door for the last time on 5th April 2013 

13.  The beginning of a new era April 27th 2013 - with new map gift shop rebrand and brand new shop front and interior refurb.  We were the first shop to have been given a shopfront Grant from Islington Council.  We worked with local Architects Lyndon Goode.

14.  We have been approved by Disabled London for creating space and access to our shop for Disabled customers.

15.  Famous for our window displays - Ian worked with the Archway Town Centre Management Group on an initiative to promote visual merchandising and launched a competition for the most innovative window display in December 2013. Stagnells won the competition but our particular favourite was the Archway Sexual Health Clinic, with the tagline - "Santa has it covered! Have you?"

16.  Number 93 Junction Road used to be a butchers shop.

17. Natashia Bhatia our Islington Exhibits featured artist 2013 was shortlisted this year for the Royal Academy Summer Show!

18.  We recently lobbied Islington for much need cycle stands outside the shop.

19.  We have launched a range of products called Archway Branded - celebrating our special neighbourhood.

20.  Ian featured in the Kentishtowner Q & A last year.

21.  As a thank you to all our amazing customers over the years - many of whom have become great friends we are about to launch a brand new initiative - currently top secret.

All mapped out

For the last 20 or so years - every now and then we get a puzzled stranger across our threshold asking if we sell maps!  Of course we understand why - but the explanation of why we are called map often fell on confused ears.....so we decided to get in some maps so that we could answer "why yes - we certainly do!"  the next time we are asked. Here is our edit of the very best gift maps in store and online.

A brilliant gift idea for anyone moving to or visiting London, this fantastic London Soft City Map from Crumpled City will look uber-cool on your travels. No more struggling to fold back up your map or hiding it under your coat so it doesn't get wet & disintegrate!  They can be crumpled, squashed and crushed into a ball. What’s more, the more battered they are, the better they look.  This contemporary reinvention of the most basic travel tool, is easy to use, more fun and inspires more freedom than a traditional map.  They have a completely new look, from the street mappings to the colour scheme and include fresh and fun new city icons;  they provide details about a large part of the city, including streets, monuments, museums, art galleries and much more, our favourite feature is "Soulsights" which are unique places specifically chosen to move, touch and inspire the modern traveller.

The perfect gift for a London underground commuter.  Displaying every single station on the London Underground network the Tube map oyster wallet offers complete peace of mind when travelling around London.  The front face shows the central areas, and flip the wallet over to follow a journey into north or south London.

Your oyster card fits neatly into a specially designed pocket on the inside, and there are also transparent pockets for photo ID and any other cards.

While on the subject of the London Underground - we have a little piece of history instore too - with this little notebook showing the Underground Map prior to the 1939 extension and Highgate - Archway name change.

Never one to miss an opportunity to indulge in a little bit of history see below the shameful loss of the original "Highgate" station (designed by Leslie Green which opened on 22 June 1907 and was faced in Green's standard ox-blood glazed brick).  This was  destroyed when the Tower and surrounding "Mall" were built in 1963. 

This Scratch Map is brilliant! It's the perfect way to show off where you have been travelling while livening up your wall with a colourful world map. Based on the idea of the scratch card, you just scratch off the places you have been and bright colours will be revealed underneath. Scratch Map also includes facts about certain countries and cities. Fun for all the family.

Scratch Map is an amazingly high quality, uber-massive wall map, featuring a gold top foil layer. Why? Because you get a unique, slick looking gold wall map to start with, and then scratch off all the places you've visited to reveal a whole new world below, featuring colour and geographical detail. The result is a totally unique and personalised world map. What a great gift. Comes packaged in a tube, the ultimate in Travel gifts!
mapgiftshop.com

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Thabto (Two Heads Are Better Than One) is a contemporary London based design studio producing a unique range of fun and original gifts, quirky accessories and design-led homewares.

After graduating in Product Design from Central Saint Martins, London in 2006, Thabto founders Steven and James collaborated on a number of design projects for various clients. They quickly realised that their like-minded approach to design and flow of creativity when working together was the perfect foundation for a partnership, leading the duo to design and develop their own range of quality, quirky and unusual products.
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Our favourite product is the Subbuteo bottle opener and we aren't alone - it won a hattrick of awards in the gift of the year competition.  Best Gift for Men and Best Collectible Gift, and also the prestigious OVERALL GIFT OF THE YEAR 2014! 

So what market does James have in mind for his Subbuteo range? “I think it is really the Dad market - guys who used to play when they were young. In fact we’ve noticed that a lot of the 40-something and 50-something buyers who come to the stand looking a bit tired after traipsing round the show, get really enthusiastic when they see it and you can suddenly see a flash of their seven-year old selves,” 

OMG he's talking about Ian and I!  and that was exactly what happened when we came across the THABTO stand at the International Spring Fair in Birmingham this February.

Thabto's growing range of tongue in cheek products are now stocked by some of the worlds most respected retailers worldwide... (we are in good company!) And there are many more great products in the pipeline.

Here comes the Bride

Elizabeth Avey is an exciting London based bridal wear company, based in Archway in Bickerton House.  Elizabeth has kindly provided the centerpiece for our wedding inspired window! Specialising in fully restored beautiful couture vintage and antique wedding gowns from Edwardian to the 1970’s. A relaxed atmosphere, luxury surroundings and strong customer service ethos along with a well-earned reputation for the country’s most extensive and expertly selected collection of professionally restored vintage wedding dresses means they regularly attract brides from all over Britain and Europe.

Customers come seeking a rare and unique gown for their wedding day, a one-off find from the bygone decades of style and glamour so it is no surprise they have quickly attracted the attention of the fashion media. Elizabeth Avey pieces can regularly be seen on the front covers and fashion pages of the likes of Vogue, Porter, Brides, You and your Wedding, Homes and Antiques, Ok! , etc as well as in hard back reference and inspiration books not to mention many features on the hugely popular British and American wedding blogs such as Love my Dress, Rock n Roll bride and style me pretty.

 prices about £500 to £1000

Our dear friend Ruth is the talent and brains behind the bridal footwear brand Harriet Wilde and is also based in Bickerton House.  She has kindly provided the beautiful bridal shoes featured in our display!  Harriet Wilde designs exquisite designer wedding shoes, her bridal shoes are renowned for style and comfort.

Harriet Wilde offers a bespoke service too - matching colours and fabrics as well as heel trim options to bling those heels.

Click on the photos for links to her fabulous website.

So whether you are the Bride or the guest at a wedding this year - pop by and have a look at our new collection of wedding gifts, including exclusive ceramic vases by Mumhadoneofthose prices from £36

We have a beautiful range of duck egg resin photo frames by Gisela Graham from £11.50

This vintage multi heart photo frame is the perfect gift for precious memories £36.50.

Mum had One of Those

Our very good friends Neil Andrews and Des Curran have set up a company with the quirky title Mumhadoneofthose collecting and often reluctantly selling, mid-century design classics.  

Their carefully curated collection of classic designs in pottery, glass, ceramic, furniture and kitchenware can be admired  here......you will no doubt get a sense of their passion for fabulous vintage finds.  

I also love Neil's infectious passion for a good photo - his often witty pics cleverly portray an everyday quintessential London with all it's quirks and beauty.  

I would personally like to thank Neil for introducing me to twitter and the twiscapade that followed, which ultimately developed into this blog.

At map gift shop we are privileged to be stocking some beautiful vases from the Mumhadoneofthose collection - exclusively available instore, fulfilling a long-term ambition to sell vintage and new items side by side.

White bisque finish vases from *Royal KPM, Bavaria. These stylish vases were made in the 1960s in West Germany.

These desirable vases are affordably priced from £36 - please enquire through our contact page for specific details.

*Since 250 years, the royal sceptre brand stands for finest porcelain that fascinates people all over the world – very often over several generations. In the words MADE TO STAY KPM expresses its ambition to maintain its tradition, to create persistent values, and set epoch-making design trends.

Since it was founded by Frederick the Great, in 1763, the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin stands for hand-crafted luxury, trend-setting design, and highest quality standards. 

In its Berlin-based workshops, the manufactory produces exclusive porcelain of timeless aesthetics in the best tradition of European craftsmanship. Works from KPM have been included in renowned museums and international design collections. They have always been coveted items among connoisseurs and collectors around the world.

Before a piece of porcelain is stamped with the sceptre-shaped brand in cobalt blue it has to undergo numerous production steps and the most stringent quality controls. All decorations are hand-painted. The artistic freedom is what makes every masterpiece a unique piece of art.

Conscious of its 250-year old history and tradition, the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin continues to follow new paths in the future and will no doubt play a leading role in the art of porcelain for years to come.

An Egg-cellent Easter Gift!

More and more people are looking for non chocolate gifts this Easter!

Egg cups make an eggcellent  Easter Gift, take your pick from our rather eggcentric selection!

Birdy Egg Cups £17.95

Paul Thurlby Egg cups £22.95 - Rob Ryan Egg Cups Happy Egg Cups £17.50

PiP Studio Egg Cups available in Pink / Khaki & Blue Stripes £3.95

Mr and Mrs Egg Cups - available individually £4.95

Bunny Egg Cups available in store

Little SEEDBALLS of love

It is always a pleasure to stock products you believe are worthwhile!  The friendly people at Seedball came onto our radar through Twitter.  Keen as ever to support our neighbours, (they are based in Muswell Hill), we also loved their story and their dream "to scatter the seed ball of love, up and down the UK"

SEEDBALL is run by Project Maya, a non-profit eco-social enterprise working to build a global network of reserves. Based on the principles of permaculture, these reserves will represent nature and community in balance, with space for wildflowers, wildlife, food growing and fun! 
All profits from SEEDBALL are used towards funding Maya Reserves and other Project Maya eco activities to help make the world a better, happier, and more sustainable place. 

Their products are wildflower seeds, clay, compost & a smidgen of chilli powder (a mini ecosystem) packed into a little ball, which is a simpler way to create beautiful wildflower gardens from seed!  They are presented in this handy little tin for an amazing £4.95.  The perfect gift for wildlife & nature lovers or if you fancy scattering a few seeds yourself - be a rebel and try guerrilla gardening!

"If the bee disappeared from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years to live." -  Albert Einstein 

The best selling product in the range is the Bee Mix - A careful selection of native wildflower seeds that bees will just love! Bee mix uses only species recommended by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and includes both early and late summer flowering plants:

Bees (bumblebees and honey bees) are the principle pollinators of flowering plants and are crucial for food production. In the UK, bee pollination services contribute an estimated £1.8 billion per year to the UK economy.  If we were to take over the role of pollination from bees in the UK alone, it would require a workforce of 30 million people! Without bees, many fruits, vegetables and other crops would not grow and many wild flowers would disappear from the countryside. 

Yet the disappearance of bees is a very real threat. Most of the UK’s bumblebee species have greatly declined in recent years, with two species extinct in the UK since the 1940’s, while honeybee numbers have dropped by 50% in the last 25 years.

A major factor causing their decline is the loss of countryside wildflowers.

The best thing you can do to help bees is to plant native flowers in the garden. Bees need nectar-rich flowers between March and September, however many of the cultivated and exotic flowers that are common in gardens produce no nectar (or it’s inaccessible to bees).   Not only do wildflowers look fantastic, they're hardy, resistant to slugs and pests, suited to our climate, and bursting with pollen and nectar.

Available in Bee Mix, Butterfly Mix, Urban Meadow Mix, Poppy, Forget-me-not & Oxeye Daisy - wouldn't you just like to see your garden look a beautiful as this?