Shoppers in Longton can now step into a world of everyday magic and creativity thanks to the precinct's latest addition. 

Jaki and Robert Walker opened Wickwood Cottage on Bennett Precinct, Longton Exchange, on Saturday stocking a range of handmade wax melts, artwork, homeware and more. 

The store has also become one of few in the area stocking ranges of the popular Frenchic paints which can be used for upcycling furniture and DIY.

The husband and wife team say it was a "no-brainer" to open in Longton and the cottage-themed shop has been delicately designed so shoppers can step into a "whimsical" world of relaxation.

Wickwood Cottage is based at the Longton Exchange. (Nub News)

Jaki and Robert have been building their business since 2018 from acrylic pet paws and up-cycled furniture until 2024 when they also started to introduce wax melts.

Jaki told Stoke Nub News: "We created the Wickwood brand around what Rob was already doing under a different brand name and pulled my art in, made it more whimsical and then started doing gift sets where we could include a piece of artwork with the wax melts and then wrote stories. 

"Our website is only our candles and wax melts and I wouldn't even say we found our brand - our brand found us.

"We have literally stepped back into my childhood. Rob has all the good ideas and actually the ingenuity to make it happen. 

"So we were doing something we didn't see anyone else doing because there are millions of people making candles and wax melts but we then just took a step further."

Jaki and Robert have been busy renovating the store ready for the opening. (Nub News)

Robert has played in punk bands throughout his life and was working in a warehouse prior to taking on the shop. Jaki meanwhile works part-time as a teacher and the pair were looking for a way to step back and embrace their creativity. 

Since taking on the unit they have been busy painting, plastering and moving in furniture to transform the space ready for the opening. 

The store also includes a creative space where the pair will be painting furniture and completing crafts for the shop. 

Robert said: "We saw that things were happening in Longton, especially on Bennett Precinct.

The precint has a variety of independent retailers. (Nub News)

"This was a shop that we looked at and so much work needed doing to it. We were like, the windows are brilliant but it needed work

"When Covid happened a lot of places closed down and it didn't feel like a very good place anymore but now they've got a good management team who are bringing independent retailers in and it's a good mix. 

"And the things that they say they want to do we think will bring a lot of people into the town."

Wickwood Cottage is open Monday-Tuesday 10am-4pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm.