Love Your High Street Awards – Ipswich retailer makes the final 8

Ipswich independent Loveone has reached the final 8 of the Love your High Street Awards 2025. Chosen from hundreds of independent businesses from across the UK. The awards are supported by the British Independent Retailers Association [BIRA] and celebrate businesses’ commitment to the high street, customers and the local community. It is now open to a public vote.

Who Is Loveone?

Loveone

21 Saint Peter's Street Ipswich IP1 1XF

Loveone, an independent retailer, has been in Ipswich for over 14 years. For owner Cathy Frost, her vision was to offer Ipswich shoppers an alternative to the standard High street gift shops.

Loveone can be found at 21 St Peters Street, Ipswich, in the Saints area of town. The shop will be celebrating 18 years on the high street in November this year. Loveone is a one stop shop for gift buying, products include cards and gift wrapping, jewellery, Jellycat toys, clothes and accessories, homeware and candles. Many products are sourced locally and Cathy Frost the owner has always been a big supporter of local artisan. In 2010 together with 2 friends, Jess Broad and Chris Plowman they set up I Make Fun Stuff Street Markets to deliver artisan markets to St Peters Street and Ipswich Corn Exchange. The markets are still running twice a year on the Saints, drawing large crowds and supporting many local artists and designers. The next market in the Festive event on the 23rd November. Collaboration with other businesses and organisations is another key part of the survival of the high street. Cathy is part of the team delivering the Ipswich Book Festival, 3rd -5th October. Bringing together 4 local businesses, 12 venues and over 40 events to the town.

Why support the high Street?

Small independent businesses are the lifeblood of our towns and cities. They provide creativity and encourage entrepreneurship, support start-ups and mentoring for the businesses of the future. Their role has become even more important since lockdown and the rise in working from home. They are places to meet, socialise, with day and night economies populating our urban spaces. More than ever the high street is aligning itself to the visitor economy and goes hand in hand with the cultural offer of any place. The high street is more experiential than ever. Independent businesses also support the local economy with jobs and vibrant supply chains, bringing and sustaining revenue locally.

How to vote

Loveone needs your vote. The competition is now open to a public vote, closing on 27th September.
Please click on the link below where you can see all 8 finalists and vote.

https://bira.co.uk/campaigns/lyhs/lyhs-awards-finalists/

Cathy said “I am very proud of my 18 years on the high street and love my community of the Saints. I am a massive advocate for small business both locally and elsewhere, we are a very important part of the UK economy, but we do need the public’s continued support. This nomination is amazing, and I am in good company with the other finalists. If you like what we do please vote- your high street needs you!”

Who wrote this

Cathy Frost
Owner of Loveone 21 St Peters Street, Ipswich
Director of Saints Ipswich CIC
Director of Ipswich Book Festival

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Sam Sherman

Sam is a Co-Founder of Ipswich.love. Passionate about Ipswich, Sam looks to see how we might jointly reverse some of the recent negativity and bring some deserved positivity back to our beloved Town.