Jodi Skelton, owner and director at retailer Uneeka and wholesaler Ancient Mariner, shares an insight into their story and why ‘a lifestyle made fair’ is deep within its ethos.
Almost 20 years since its conception, Uneeka still maintains its original ethos of ‘a lifestyle made fair’ with a transparent supply chain which is thoughtfully screened.
Established in idyllic Cornwall, the independent, family run business has been offering truly ethical lifestyle products and goods for the home with much focus on provenance. “We have been working very closely with our suppliers from the outset, something that was an essential part of our vision for the business,” explains Jodi Skelton, owner and director.
It was the first of its kind in the South West, and it’s still going strong with the recent expansion and restyling of its Falmouth lifestyle store, as well as the newly appointed in-house interior designer.
The business comprises of Uneeka.life, which focuses on lifestyle goods, Uneeka.home, an interior designer’s dream providing statement furniture and furnishings, and a cosy café above its Truro store, providing homemade, local hearty meals and drinks.
Suppliers include B Corps, Fair Trade organisations & social enterprises, from the local vicinity as well as further afield, with products ranging from mango wood furniture and hand printed quilts to vegan skincare, hand poured candles and artisan chocolate. Small UK companies include stationary made from discarded coffee cups and upcycled bags from textile offcuts.
“We really do take our time in sourcing suppliers, ensuring not only great quality, but uniqueness with products which tell a story,” Jodi said.
Product Packaging & eco footprint
Keeping with their business values, Uneeka chooses green energy for their retail stores and reuses all packaging materials to minimise their footprint. Bespoke shopper bags are made with discarded newspapers – crafted by an NGO in India, which provides shelter and education to street children. All suppliers are encouraged to package plastic free, with many reusing packaging materials themselves.
Uneeka.home
Is a proud partner of Swyft Sofas, offering the only showroom of its kind in the South West. “The stylish sofas do not use PFAS chemicals in the manufacturing and choose only D2w technology when recyclable plastic has to be used,” Jodi said. “This technology breaks down the plastic until it’s no longer a plastic, speeding up oxidation until there’s no trace of toxic residue or microplastics. D2w can be recycled with conventional polymer, is made with recylate and classed as biodegradable.
“Uneeka.home is also able to offer commercial grade furnishings, with interior designers & hoteliers invited for one-to-one viewings.”
Ancient Mariner Imports
Looking to continue its growth, entrepreneurs Jodi and wife Carrina, have recently relaunched long standing furniture & lifestyle wholesaler, Ancient Mariner. The unique pieces range from solid wooden tables, upholstered chairs and cabinets to decorative lifestyle items to one off vintage pieces all handcrafted in small Fair Trade factories in Indonesia.
With ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility at the heart of the supply chain, the duo traveled with their children earlier this year to meet the traders first hand and start building new, long-lasting relationships. “It was such a fantastic experience,” reflects Carrina. “It’s unbelievable to think in just three months we went from chatting over a drink in Yogyakarta to receiving our first shipment in our Cornish warehouse.”
The Skelton’s aim is to keep this a family business, ensuring “excellent, efficient and personal service”, supplying customers with “good quality products at a great value, without penalising on style and uniqueness”.
The previous owners of Ancient Mariners had been supplying Uneeka.home for over 10 years, as Jodi explains: “James Ellis had been a supplier for many years. We’ve always been impressed by the selection of high quality and unique pieces he had to offer. When we heard James wanted to step back from the business and focus on his family and other projects, we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to keep the Ancient Mariner name trading and meet the wonderful artisans in person.”
Working closely with local artisans, the company can ensure that each product is crafted with care, adhering to Fair Trade principles, with artisans that are paid fairly for their labour and their working environments are safe and dignified. The focus of this initiative is not only on the welfare of the workers but also on protecting the environment by using sustainable production practices.
“Our goal is to provide high-quality products to our customers, while also making a positive impact on the communities we work with,” added Jodi. “By partnering with small artisan makers, we are able to support traditional craftsmanship while ensuring their working conditions and compensation meet Fair Trade standards.
“We continue to work with suppliers who adopt eco-friendly production methods, such as the use of sustainable materials and environmentally conscious practices that protect local ecosystems.”
