Two local businesses growing together

In September 2021, a handful of local creatives temporarily took on the former Wains Services space at Glossop Gasworks as a place to work and meet for a few months. They named it KIN.DER. 

Quickly turning this place of local legend into a print studio, gift shop and creative co-working space, it became obvious that roots were being grown and a special community was being built. 

Over the past five years, KIN.DER has been run by local artist, printmaker and musician Richard Knox, developing those initial ideas into a long-term, sustainable business. 

As the demands of a busy print studio grew over the years, it became clear that running the studio and gift shop simultaneously simply wasn’t possible…enter Sunny’s. 

Metinee Affleck (Mei) and Richard met in 2024, not long after Mei had started Sunny’s Lifestyle Store from her loft. At the time, Sunny’s was entirely online, and Mei would often pop into KIN.DER to buy coffee beans and swap small-business stories. 

Conversations about business turned into conversations about finding a physical shop for Sunny’s, and eventually it became clear that finding an affordable shop of her own just wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. 

So Richard came up with an idea: why not bring Sunny’s to KIN.DER to replace the existing shop space, which was proving increasingly difficult for him to find time to run? 

Mei went for the idea and, in summer 2025, moved into the space, bringing a new lease of life to the shop and Glossop’s high street with a vibrant collection of homewares, accessories and gifts. 

After a year of working closely together, building their businesses and putting on events such as the Sunny’s Summer Social, where they collaborated with local restaurant Almanac, it was time to focus on what comes next. 

In August, the space across the hall in the Gasworks building became available, and the idea of expanding the KIN.DER footprint started to take shape. 

On Friday 9th October, the new and expanded versions of KIN.DER and Sunny’s will officially open, with an opening party taking place from 6pm to 9pm. There will be live screen-printing, special offers in the shop, a DJ set, and drinks from Buxton Brewery and Living Things. 

The event is free, and all are welcome to attend. 

For more information, pop into the shop or visit sunnys-store.co.uk or kin-der.co