OUR STORY

The below article from SSEAMS Magazine (issue 005, May 2023) describes Karen Harvey's views on all things design and life:

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HOOS is an independent lifestyle shop in the vibrant West End of Glasgow which opened in 2016 with a focus on Scandinavian design. Throughout the last seven years Karen Harvey has managed to establish her own small universe in the area, along with HOOS’s two sister stores inHOOS and Green HOOS which both opened in 2022.

 

Karen returned to Glasgow to open HOOS after living and working in England for the charity sector. She was awarded an MBE for her work with vulnerable children and families.

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“I set up Hoos when I returned to Glasgow after having lived in Suffolk for thirty years. I wanted a new career and have always loved Interiors and making a home, and perhaps being a shop keeper. Running a business is essentially the same as running a charity.”

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“I was brought up in Glasgow and my parents used to buy our furniture from the Danish Design Centre. They had a modest flat but it was really comfortable and - now I know - stylish home! I love the quality and functionality of Danish design, hence I decided to focus on Danish Brands. Simplicity is usually the key and of course designers in Denmark have produced some of the most iconic design classics which are still on top of everyone’s list to this day.”

 

HOOS has naturally evolved over the last seven years to become something more than a designer lifestyle store - its a place where customers come back to again and again to get inspired. Anyone in search of gift ideas, decorative items, candles, books and even cosmetics, jewellery and clothing will always find something to take home from HOOS.

 

“The West End has been so supportive of everything we have offered which has included plants, flowers and small furniture - when we could fit it in. The shop is like the village store sometimes with people bumping into friends and catching up on life!  There has aways been pockets of greatness in Glasgow, and the West End has some really great independent businesses which we are proud to be part of.

 

Karen’s love for what she does reflects on all her three stores, all of which have their distinct HOOS feel to them whilst offering different ranges of products for customers to explore.

 

inHOOS emerged during covid and has already established a reputation in Glasgow. The store opened its doors in April 2022 and showcases a selection of furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories from prestigious Danish design houses such as HAY, Muuto, Normann Copenhagen, Ferm Living, Fritz Hansen and Skagerak.

 

“I noticed the unit inHOOS is now in coming up for rent and I could not resist taking the plunge as I have always wanted to show my customers furniture from my range of brands. It is a beautiful spacious showroom with huge display windows and parking outside – a big bonus in the West End.”

 

“Our Danish brands work in collaboration with some of the best designers to offer contemporary collections. New products are launched every year at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen which keeps bringing freshness to our stores.”

 

“Green HOOS is our newest venture offering a curated selection of indoor and outdoor plants, flowers and gardening accessories.”

 

“For years I used to sell lots of plants and pots at HOOS, which we had displayed both inside and outside the store. As I am a keen gardener and love growing things, I soon realised I really enjoyed the routine of going up to the Flower Market every week to pick up my order. During a time of reflection around the covid events, I decided to take up the offer from my friends to be part of the new Crabshakk Botanics and open Green HOOS on the garage ramp next door.”

 

“Collaboration is also really important to us and over the years we have offered the opportunity for pop ups within the store to contribute to the development of young designers and to promote makers from Scotland and beyond. We plan to continue this in all three stores expanding towards all design fields and bringing people together.”

 

“I have always had lots of energy and growing up my mum was always one for us being productive, no sitting reading a book in our house. I love meeting new people, being a shop keeper and part of the West End community. I feel at the heart of our village, especially now that I have three shops. I have a great team of six working with me who are all creative young people and I feel lucky to be able to offer them secure employment and involve them in the development of the HOOS brand.

 

Offering good customer service is a priority for us and, although we do have sales from our websites, it is all about the physical stores and making sure they are vibrant and friendly places to shop in for our customers.