My London: Catherine Hanley of Search and Rescue

We talk to Catherine Hanley of lifestyle store Search and Rescue about Stoke Newington, spotting creative products and celebrity shop assistants.


Can you tell us about the shop and what you do there?
Search & Rescue is a lifestyle and gift Store in Stoke Newington. We stock a mix of contemporary brands alongside unique vintage finds and furniture.
I take care of all of our marketing and PR which is a really fun job. I get to research beautiful things and communicate with all types of interesting people.
I work as part of a wonderful team of 5 girls. We have a store manager Clare, our buyer/visual merchandiser Louise and two part time ladies Jenny and Louise K. Being such a small team means everyone plays a vital role in the success of the business, and in making each others days lots of fun!


How did you get into retail and what made you decide to open a lifestyle store?
I’ve been working retail in some shape or form since I was 15. I have worked for all sorts of retailers from being a weekend girl in a petrol station to DIY store to fancy department store.
Growing up my parents ran their own business from our family home so I have been exposed to business from an early age, and I guess business sensibilities just naturally sunk in. I have always had an interest in creative expression be it art, clothing or interiors, working in retail gave me the perfect opportunity to combine my business smarts and passion for beautiful objects.

Search & Rescue isn’t my store unfortunately, but some day I would love to own my own!


Where do you draw inspiration from for your products? Do you source form local designers and makers?
Inspiration for products comes from everywhere. Our buyer Louise is a fountain of design knowledge; which she gathers through relentless hunting, searching and noseying through design blogs, magazines, industry journals, markets, auction rooms, antiques halls, and eavesdropping on the cool kids. She has an amazing eye and if she loves it, it usually ends up in our shop!


What does a product have to have for you to stock it? Classic, original etc.?
When it comes to our contemporary products our main priorities are quality, beauty and uniqueness. Where possible we aim to stock British made products. There are so many great makers out there it’s often hard to choose.
It is really important to us that we support local designers and creators. Being in Hackney we are lucky enough to have some of the UK’s most exciting creatives right on our doorstep.

As for vintage, we keep an eye out for the big names, ercol, eames, parker knoll etc. But mainly it’s the truly unique, quirky and beautiful items that earn their place in our store. We’ve had all sorts of great things through our door; vintage bingo sets, a copper rocking horse, school laboratory stools with classic student graffiti and a fully functioning 1966 pinball machine.


What is your favourite product in the shop at the moment?
Our favourite item at the moment is our Vintage anatomy model. She’s a lady and has all of her bits intact. She is in mint condition and we love her! We always have one stand out vintage piece that’s really special, and she is taking the crown at the moment.


You’re right on Church Street in the heart of Stoke Newington. What do you like about the area?
Stokey is such a great place. I live and work here and I love it. It has a really nice community vibe, which is important in this big city. Church Street is Stoke Newington’s shopping hub full of independent retailers, you see familiar faces every day and get to know the people around you, which adds to the sense of community here.


The independent nature of most of the shops makes Church Street fairly unique. Are there issues with chains looking to move into the street?
Yes, there has been. Everyone in the area is passionate about supporting local businesses. We are so lucky to have everything on our doorstep; amazing bars, restaurants and retailers and wicked 24hr grocery stores who know their regulars by name - you don’t get that in Tesco or Sainsburys!! It would be such a shame for these brilliant people to lose out on business if the chains were to creep in.


What other places apart from Search and Rescue would you recommend people visit on a trip to Stoke Newington?
There are so many great things to see in Stoke Newington but my no.1 recommendation would have to be Abney Park Cemetery. It’s rugged landscape with incredible tombs and amazing church are beautiful on a Summer’s or Winter’s day. They also run amazing events there, last year I saw a production
of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream which was set in different locations around the park. It was awesome!


If you could employ any celebrity to work behind the counter at Search & Rescue who would it be?
Well, with it being 5 girls working in the shop the general consensus is it would have to be someone hot and funny. Clare, our store manager, is insisting on Jarvis Cocker!


What is the best thing about London?
The variety of people, places and things to do. It’s fascinating that so many people with different interests, passions and backgrounds feel at home here and have fallen in love with the city.


What is the worst thing about London?
There are too many people everywhere!! And it’s obviously ridiculously expensive to live here.


Tell us one London gem that everyone should know about?
Café Z Bar on Stoke Newington High Street. It’s a Turkish café and in a sea of trendy shops and eateries is refreshingly unassuming. And best of all their breakfasts are delicious. Get the Set 5, it’s AMAZING!