The past week has been madness, as we all rushed around preparing our studios and the house for the big launch do on 7th Feb.  It's preoccupied us all for the last month and the changes here have been incredible.  Superhuman efforts from all involved meant that everything was presented to utter perfection when at last, we were able to open our doors to all you eager folks keen to have a look-see and explore Princes House Cornwall.

Preparations were taking place right up until the last minute including the delivery of a fabulously luxurious sofa, curtain and dressing screen for our lobby area, styled and kindly provided by Debbie of Interior Dynamics.  It adds real panache to the hallway and is dead comfy as many guests discovered at the party later...

The day began for us with the Town Crier (Mr John Sweetman) travelling valiantly in the cold around Truro and calling all who heard him to come to the party that evening.  Holly followed and tweeted and videoed the whole affair.

Back in the day when a wedding was to be held, and they were much bigger community affairs than they are now, guests were invited in exactly this same way - with everyone within earshot being taken as invited to the ceremony.

We felt it was only fitting therefore to spread the word in this way and it certainly went down well when our Town Crier generously returned to hold the door for our many guests.

Speaking of which we had some 500 guests, yes that's right FIVE HUNDRED people came to see us.  Wow.  We are all totally blown away by the support you all showed us and the positive things that were said by many in reference to the Collective, the building, and the talented business who reside here.

Those who came were treated to a glass of bubbles supplied by the Truro based winery - Old Chapel Cellars or for the more robust among them, a pint of Cornwall's finest courtesy of Skinners Brewery just round the corner in Newham.  Massive thanks to them both for supporting us on our opening day.

Keith Kneebone, a professional Master of Ceremonies welcomed guests and made introductions before the lovely Daphne Skinnard, Deputy Editor of BBC Radio Cornwall (and newly made Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall to-boot) kindly joined us to say a few words and introduce all the businesses to the guests on the night. You can see how crowded it was with people unable to move on the stairs or landings and backed up into all studios off the ground and first floors...   

Then the Mayor of Truro, Councillor Ms Lindsay Southcombe, officially cut the ribbon and everyone was free to explore the building and the hidden gems inside each inspiring studio.

Local boy Tom Cary an acclaimed singer / sonwriter played throughout the night adding some real atmosphere to proceedings which was appreciated by all, we are thankful and lucky to have had him to join us!

All in all it was a truly fabulous evening, one we will never forget and the best possible start to this exciting enterprise of which we are all so proud to be a part.  

On behalf of the Collective we'd like to publicly thank everyone who contributed to our evening including our guests for turning out, being interested and helping to really make the party happen!  We look forward to welcoming you into Princes House again soon.

On Thursday this week we'll announce the winner of our prize draw - entries close at midnight on Wednesday 13th so if you weren't able to make the launch do pop by and pick up a form - they're in the lobby and the building is now open every day from 9:30 - 5:30 for you to wander around and meet the suppliers!

Did you make the launch evening?  What did you think?

Having celebrated that fact that I had filed my tax return , an annual dread and chore, I decided to enjoy the luxury of spending the afternoon in town, well the big City of Truro, that is! Living so close and shopping for clients, rather than myself, I spend surprisingly little time popping in and out just for a peek.

Luckily, I had the perfect excuse, as I was going round delivering invitations to our launch at Princes House Cornwall in Truro on 7th February. So, armed with a pile of invitations and reasonably comfy boots I headed into one of the few snowless towns in the UK!

Timed with yesterdays’s announcement, on the news, that Christmas hadn’t heralded the shopping revival, as first predicted, this proved an enlightening experience!

Let me first take you back a bit! Do you remember what Christmas Shopping used to be like before the advent of the internet! Perhaps you remember it as I do, with the bustling excitement of anticipation, the cheerful lights, the buzz of frantic shoppers and the joy of playing and prodding and poking! Or, are you the person who remembers the cold, or freezing conditions, shops packed  full of coughing, sniffling and argumentative people, the battering of other combative shoppers armed with their loads and then the struggle of getting on the bus or carrying it all back to the car?

Of course, depending on which of these shoppers you are will have determined whether you spent your time on-line or out in the colourful, real, touchy feely world of shopping! I think you know which kind I am!

It is true to say that on-line shopping has taken on such a mantle that Parcelforce has increased its workload immensely, and,  it would appear that, on the whole, people get what they expected and return no more of their internet purchases than their “real world” equivalents! By 2016, it is estimated that at least 25 percent of all shopping will be on-line, but talking to retailers and friends, I am surprised we haven’t already hit that figure!

So back to the lovely high street retailers! I am sure Truro reflects many towns across the country. I visited shops that are new, shops that have been around for 25 years and shops that have been family run for over a century and all of them were reflecting how quiet things are for them. I talked to people whose hours have been cut, who don’t know whether it is worth them reinvesting, who don’t know how to read shopping moods any more and who have changed their buying patterns in anticipation that they will have that vital something to offer! I even walked right past the recently closed Jessops whose curtains have already fallen which was the reality check, and will be, for all those retailers walking past the boarded up facade.

It is true to say, that some people seek out ideas on-line then head to the shops to feel and test the items, whilst others feel and test the items then head home looking for an internet bargain, at the expense of the retailer who has to account for stock.

The world is a changing place and judging by the feedback on the High Street, they are all feeling deflated, nervous and reticent to invest, which, of course, will not boost the economy!

What will life be like if we lose our towns to boarded up frontages, broken glass windows and tatty facades. Where will we meet and mooch? Shopping is a whole social experience of touching and feeling and conversation and aspiration and engagement and I, for one, hope that the “Real World” wins and that Truro and all the beautiful towns, villages and cities survive to enjoy a more vibrant future.