Uneeka's 20 Year Anniversary

Celebrating 20 Years of Uneeka

Can you believe it? We’re turning 20 this year! Uneeka, known for its unique and ethically sourced home and lifestyle goods, is celebrating two decades in business this Spring. What started back in 2004 as a dream between friends Jodi Skelton and John Tornabene has grown into something truly special.

The idea behind Uneeka came after Jodi and John were inspired by a trip to Nepal. At a time when fair trade was still finding its feet, they envisioned a place where people could shop for uniquely crafted, high-quality products that also had a positive impact on the world. Fast forward 20 years, and we’re still doing just that—offering a mix of home goods, furniture, gifts, and more, that tell a story - all sourced from ethical suppliers around the globe.

Watch the video below to learn more about our story.

From Lemon Street to a Multi-Location Success - Our Timeline

Our journey began back in March 2005 with a small unit in Truro’s Lemon Street Market. It didn’t take long for our little shop to become a local favourite, drawing in visitors and locals alike with its eclectic mix of colourful, one-of-a-kind and fair trade products. 

In 2007 a new store opens in Padstow, Jodi takes the helm as John focuses on new ventures. July 2008 saw the launch of their first online shop as an effort to make the fair-trade shopping experience available to all.

 John parted in 2009 to pursue other projects, with Jodi taking the helm and in 2010 expanding into two larger retail spaces in Truro—one for gifts and lifestyle and one for furniture and soft furnishings now known as uneeka.life and uneeka.home.

Our cosy café, serving up homemade lunches, cakes and locally roasted coffee, opened its doors in 2011. Its welcoming and cosy vibes quickly made this space a popular destination, not only for casual meet-ups, but also private events, workshops and community networking (get in touch if you'd like to host your next event with us 🙂).

In 2017 Carrina Skelton, Jodi's wife, started doing the accounts as an Accounts manager and then later on she joined Uneeka as Co-Director. 

"We always said we'd never ever work together, then lockdown happened and we were working in the house together and we got on quite well - so here we are! We love working together and we love our team." 

 - Carrina Skelton, Co-Director.

Our lifestyle store in Falmouth opened in 2019, bringing our unique mix of creative products to this vibrant seaside town and extending our reach to even more people across Cornwall. In 2024, we temporarily closed for refit and moved across the road in Market St. into a bigger and brighter store to allow a wider offering! You may have also come across our Christmas pop-ups! Over the years these have popped up in various locations, with one of a kind items and festive treasures. 

A Creative Team

 

 

One of the best parts about our success is the amazing team behind it. Many of the team have been here for several years and have become well-known to both customers and suppliers. Not only that but our team is a talented creative one! You may have noticed our ever changing window displays! We are fortunate to have some amazing creative minds within our team and welcome everyone’s input into our window designs. 

We’ve built a loyal following, not just because of the fantastic products we offer, but because of the warm, family-like atmosphere we’ve created. It’s this sense of community that has helped us stand the test of time.

"Before starting at Uneeka over 8 years ago, I was a loyal customer and would regularly pop in for my new earring fix! I started working on Saturdays, and gradually moved to full time and started managing Uneeka Life around 3 years ago. For me, the people really make Uneeka what it is and I'm so lucky to have been surrounded by such lovely, hard working and creative individuals over the years who have helped shape me in to who I am today. I love Uneeka and all that it stands for and I love being apart of the team!"

- Emily Holland, Life Store Manager 

"Uneeka has been a massive part of my life for the last 14 years. I've met so many great colleagues who have become friends, and worked my way up to Operations Manager from sales assistant; there's nowhere else I would want to work. I love the focus on trading fairly and ethically, the opportunity to be both creative and strategic, and the overall values of the company. It truly makes it feel like more than just a job. I've loved every minute of working at Uneeka, and feel privileged to be part of its 20 year celebrations."

- Jess Prisk, Operations Manager

Evolving to Meet Our Customers’ Needs

As we’ve grown, so has what we offer. Our commitment to quality, ethical sourcing, and unique designs has never wavered. In recent years a larger delivery van was purchased, allowing us to deliver our furniture nationwide. Ipad's with digital checkouts were introduced (compared to handwritten prices!) as well as the launch of an online e-commerce store. 

And it's not just about products anymore. We’ve recently added new services to the mix, including an in-house interior designer offering everything from "designer for a day" services to styling workshops. We want to help our customers create spaces they love, with expert advice and a personal touch.

‘A Lifestyle Made Fair’ – Our Promise to You

Looking back, it’s clear that we’ve always been about more than just selling products. Our original slogan, "A Lifestyle Made Fair," has been a guiding principle since the beginning. While fair trade was a big influence when we first started, it’s always been about working fairly—whether that’s with our suppliers, customers, or within our team. Today, our updated slogan, “Ethically sourced, thoughtfully designed, expertly crafted,” still rings true to the core values of quality, sustainability, and transparency we hold dear.

As we head into our 20th year, founder Jodi says:

 "It’s been a fun and interesting journey, looking back at some of the early images it's amazing to see how far we’ve come. It’s exciting times with new projects we’re working on, we have the launch of a new website and a fully fledged interior design and bespoke soft furnishings offering. One thing’s for sure in retail - you can’t keep doing the same thing for too long these days! It’s all thanks to the amazing people that work with us and make it all happen and our lovely customers who shop at Uneeka."

Here’s to the Next 20 Years

We’re committed to continuing to bring you high-quality, ethically sourced furniture, lifestyle products, and accessories—all with a personal approach. We’re excited for what’s ahead and ready to keep inspiring you to make a positive impact with your purchases.

A heartfelt thank you to all our customers, colleagues, suppliers, friends and family - you are what makes Uneeka what it is! We are very grateful to have you with us on this journey.  

To stay up-to-date with all the latest news, follow us on social @uneeka.life or sign up for our newsletter.

Here’s to 20 years of Uneeka—and many more to come.