Our Story...

How It All Began

Solstice started in 1993, when we moved to Northern Ireland and opened our first shop in Coleraine. We'd already spent time retailing jewellery, crafts and soft furnishings sourced from the markets of Latin America, and we wanted to bring something a little different to the high street.

We filled the shop with things we loved, from polished and raw gemstones and crystals to salt lamps, incense, smudge sticks and essential oils. We also had a real passion for Fair Trade gifts and jewellery, and loved finding unusual pieces that you wouldn't find in every shop.

It was the beginning of an adventure that has continued for more than three decades, and we're still here doing what we love.

 


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Our first premises in Coleraine,1993.


 


Newspaper article, 1993.

Graham with his son Covey, 1994.

A Bigger Shop and New Beginnings

By the year 2000, we'd outgrown our original shop and it was time for a new chapter. We moved just down the road to much larger premises on Park Street, giving us more room for all the crystals, jewellery and other treasures that had become such a big part of Solstice.

We also had a growing team of staff, led by our brilliant manager, Helen, who played a big part in the day to day running of the shop. It was an exciting time for Solstice, and it was wonderful to see the business continue to grow.





Park Street, Coleraine. 2001.


In 2004, we opened a second Solstice shop in Holywood, Co. Down. The new shop gave us the opportunity to develop our range of sterling silver jewellery, crystals, gemstones, incense and essential oils, bringing together many of the things we've always loved.

For the next 11 years, we ran both shops, splitting our time between Coleraine and Holywood. Eventually, in 2015, we decided it was time to concentrate on Holywood, and passed the Coleraine shop on to a member of our team. We're pleased to say it's still there today, trading as Equinox.

Inside High Street, Holywood. 2023.


That same year, we also launched our online shop, allowing us to reach customers further afield and share our love of crystals, jewellery and spiritual gifts with a wider audience.

Solstice has changed and grown a lot since those early days in Coleraine, but our enthusiasm for what we do remains the same. We're proud of the journey we've taken and grateful to all the customers who have supported us along the way.

Whether you've been visiting us for years or have only recently discovered Solstice, thank you for being part of our story. We look forward to welcoming you to our shop in Holywood or seeing you online.