From a personal passion for vintage interiors to a collection that outgrew his home, Russell Atkinson is bringing To Here From Eternity to North Shields’ new indoor market.
Some businesses begin with a carefully drawn-up plan. Others begin when you simply run out of room for all the things you love.
For Russell Atkinson, the man behind To Here From Eternity, it was very much the latter.
What started as a passion for furnishing his own home with pieces from the 1960s and 1970s gradually developed into a vintage business. Russell kept discovering things he couldn’t resist, until eventually he had rather more than he could accommodate.
The solution? Start selling some of his finds.
Now, Russell is preparing to take another step, joining the independent traders at Common Ground, the new indoor market taking shape inside the former Wilko building at North Shields’ Beacon Centre.
And for anyone who loves the style, character and nostalgia of decades gone by, his space promises to be well worth exploring.
A LOVE OF THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES
For Russell, vintage is about much more than collecting old things.
The 1960s and 1970s hold a particular fascination, not only for their distinctive design and fashion but for the memories they bring back.
The objects, colours and styles of those decades remind him of his childhood and evoke a sense of familiarity, comfort and security.
It’s a feeling many people will recognise.
A piece of furniture, a familiar pattern or an item once found in a family home can instantly transport someone back in time.
And often, it’s the most ordinary objects that carry the strongest memories.
That personal connection is what makes Russell’s collection interesting. He isn’t simply following a trend. He’s sharing an era that means something to him.
THE THRILL OF FINDING SOMETHING SPECIAL
Building a vintage collection requires patience, curiosity and a good eye.
Now retired, Russell spends much of his time exploring charity shops, house clearance warehouses and online sources, searching for interesting pieces to add to his stock.
Over time, he’s developed an instinct for recognising quality and finding items that others might overlook.
And he’s certainly been busy.
As Russell puts it, he has a good eye and a lock-up full of stock.
Visitors to To Here From Eternity can expect a varied selection of vintage finds, with prices ranging from affordable little discoveries to more valuable pieces, including designer gowns.
That variety is important to Russell.
He wants people to enjoy browsing and discovering things they love, whether they’re spending a few pounds or looking for something particularly special.
Part of the pleasure of visiting a vintage shop is that you never quite know what you might find.
And unlike conventional high-street retail, where the same products can appear in hundreds of shops, vintage offers the possibility of discovering something individual.
GIVING THE PAST A NEW FUTURE
There’s another appealing aspect to Russell’s business.
Every vintage item purchased is something that already exists, with its own history and character.
Choosing to buy pre-loved pieces can extend their useful lives and reduce the demand for newly manufactured goods.
It also encourages a different relationship with shopping, one where quality, originality and personal taste can matter more than the latest trends.
At Common Ground, where sustainability, independent retail and creative reuse are important parts of the vision, businesses such as To Here From Eternity have a natural place.
Russell’s collection will sit alongside other independent traders, each bringing their own interests, specialist knowledge and individual approach to retail.
A SPACE TO CALL HIS OWN
For Russell, joining Common Ground represents an exciting change.
Having previously sold through concessions within other businesses, he’s particularly looking forward to becoming an independent stallholder with the freedom to develop his own space.
He wants to create something that reflects his personality and the vintage world he loves.
It’s a relatively simple ambition, but an important one.
Traditional retail premises can be a substantial commitment for smaller independent traders. Common Ground is being developed to offer a different approach, bringing a variety of businesses together under one roof while allowing each to retain its own identity.
For Russell, that means the opportunity to arrange his collection, develop his presentation and make the space his own.
And for visitors, it means discovering another independent business with a genuine story behind it.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW FOR NORTH SHIELDS
There is something rather fitting about a business devoted to the past becoming part of the future of a former high-street department store.
The transformation of the old Wilko premises is bringing new life to a large retail space in North Shields town centre.
Rather than recreating a conventional shopping experience, Common Ground aims to bring together independent businesses, creative workshops, art, music and communal spaces where people can spend time together.
And it is the individuality of the traders that will give the market its character.
For Russell, a personal love of sixties and seventies style has grown into an opportunity to establish something of his own.
For North Shields, it’s another independent business joining a changing town centre.
We look forward to welcoming Russell and To Here From Eternity to Common Ground — and discovering some of the treasures he’s been collecting.
ABOUT COMMON GROUND
Common Ground is a new indoor market being developed by the Beacon Centre inside the former Wilko premises in North Shields.
Trader recruitment and curation are being led independently by Simmie Harper on behalf of the Beacon Centre, bringing together an eclectic mix of independent businesses, creatives, makers and specialist retailers.
I Love North Shields is the project’s media partner, sharing the stories of the traders and documenting the transformation.
Location: Former Wilko, Beacon Centre, North Shields.
Discover more independent businesses joining Common Ground in our Meet the Traders series.
