When Cat Simpson was offered a chance to turn an empty unit into something special, she didn't hesitate. The result is a vibrant hub of creativity known as The Crafty Corner -- a collective of local makers under one roof that's fast become a hidden gem of South Molton.

Cat, 38, has hospitality and retail in her blood. "I've been in pubs and shops and cafés since I was 19," she says. Originally from Exmouth, she moved to South Molton to take over the King's Arms pub and never looked back. "I loved the town, so I decided to stay."

The idea for The Crafty Corner began with a simple question posed by the market manager: would anyone like to take on a shop unit? Cat's mind immediately got to work. She envisioned a space that wasn't just hers, but a shared showcase for the many talented artisans from the area.

"I came up with the idea of having a collective shop with lots of different market traders making homemade, handmade stuff," she explains. "There's now 12 of us in here with all different kinds of things."

Running a collaborative retail space, of course, has its challenges. Coordinating stock, managing turnover, and balancing individual business interests could be a nightmare -- but Cat takes it in her stride.

"Luckily, I'm organised so I quite like a good spreadsheet," she says. There's a group chat where the traders can quickly flag if items need replacing or to check in on daily sales. It's a close-knit crew, helped by their shared roots in the local market scene. "We're all really close because of the market anyway."

The Crafty Corner opened its doors in September. That first week, says Cat, was a whirlwind. "We had a lot of people coming in and just having a look around, which is great. A lot of people bought stuff as well, which is even better." The community's response has been heartening. "The support and everything has been really, really good -- it's made me happy."

According to Ca, the shop is best described as a treasure trove of handmade goods, all crafted by locals from South Molton and its surrounding areas. "Gifts, presents, something for yourself. We range from glass to dolls and everything in between. Cards, gifts of all sorts -- and it's all handmade."

But not just anything makes the cut. "It's the quality of the products," Cat says. "It has to be good quality -- otherwise people aren't going to buy it. And it's also about the people that make it. I love them to bits. The market has got a great atmosphere and its people are the main reason. It helps that their products are amazing too."

Her own journey into crafting came via family. During lockdown, her daughter-in-law founded The Little Melty Box, a home fragrance brand. But when she had her second child, Cat stepped in to keep it going. "She couldn't cope anymore, bless her," she says.

Since then, Cat has continued to grow the business alongside running the shop, and it's still one of the top draws for customers. "Me personally, as The Little Melty Box, I've done very well in here, which is really nice. A lot of my regulars that came to the market now come here to see me -- and then they buy other things as well. So that's a bonus."

While she doesn't run workshops just yet, it's something on the horizon. "I'm hoping to maybe in the future do a 'make your own wax melt' workshop," she reveals. "But that might be further down the line."

For now, the focus is on curating a range that appeals to a wide audience. Presents, she says, are the biggest draw. "It's not necessarily one thing. It just depends on the customer -- who comes in and what they want. But there's nothing specific."

There's a sense that The Crafty Corner is more than just a retail space. It's a reflection of South Molton's character and community spirit -- something Cat deeply values. "I've been part of the community for nearly 15 years now, and it's just amazing. I've never really had to deal with anybody from the council and they've been super supportive. Andrew Coates, the town clerk, is just brilliant. He's been really nice."

The shop has brought in new faces too. "I feel like this is a community shop. It brings the community together. I've seen people in here that I've never seen in the market before. It's bringing different people in -- not everybody goes to the market, but people want to see what's in the shop. I feel privileged to be part of that community."

For Cat, the magic lies in the everyday interactions. "I enjoy meeting new people. My granddad always said I'd make money by talking," she says. "Getting to know different people, getting to know their likes and helping them. There's a few people who've messaged me asking if I do a certain type of something -- and if I don't, I can get it made. So I've then had to ask the makers to make it -- and they've made it."

As the Christmas season approaches, Cat is preparing to dial things up. "We're going to go big with Christmas -- over the top," she adds.

As for the future, she says: "At the moment, we've only got this until Christmas. But hopefully, fingers crossed, we can have it a bit longer. Hopefully, in January, I can take it on full-time. That would be my goal -- with all the other ladies who make their products."

For somebody who has never been to the town, she promotes the shop saying: "I think it's full of quirky items. There's some stuff here that you won't see anywhere else. There's a lot of one-off items that you will never find anywhere else. It's always good to come in and have a look -- you might just fall in love with that one piece of jewellery or that one glass you've seen that might just be perfect for you or your partner. Or the smell that reminds you of being at the seaside."

And her personal favourite item is her doorstop. "I call it a duck, but I think it's a goose. One of our makers made it for me and I just love it. It's like a craft fabric on a duck for The Crafty Corner, and it just tops it off perfectly. I love it."

Outside the shop, there's not much downtime. Cat still works a cleaning job, helping a few elderly ladies with their homes. "I clean their house once a week or once a fortnight," she says. Otherwise, it's time spent with her husband Simmo and their dog -- or, when she can manage it, a trip back to Exmouth to see family. But most of her energy is poured into the shop. "I don't really have much free time, to be fair. Between making and paperwork, it's keeping me very busy -- which is good. Keeps me out of trouble."

She concluded: "Thank you so much for the support so far. It's been absolutely amazing. Even if people don't buy, just coming in to have a look -- it spreads the word, which is even better."