A PLACE WORTH KNOWING
A present, a card, and something you hadn’t planned on.
The lilac frontage is your first clue. Inside tessdesigns, cards, candles, bags and small gifts sit alongside toys, home accessories and colourful clothing. It is an easy stop to build into an Ashburton wander, whether you have a birthday to buy for or simply enjoy seeing what an independent shop has chosen for its shelves.
Tess and Francis have run the business for more than twenty years. Tess’s ceramics background informs her eye for buying and display, while the team makes room for the practical side of shopping: choosing a present, finding the right outfit or having something wrapped. Leave time for the clothing area as well as the gift shelves; there are scarves, jewellery and handbags to finish a look.
The lovely little details
- Find the lilac shopfront at 6 East Street, near the Bullring.
- Gifts, home accessories, toys, cards and a separate clothing area.
- Run by Tess and Francis with a small, welcoming team.
SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
Choose the card while you’re here
Make a present feel complete with a browse of the card and wrapping-paper selection. There are designs for all sorts of occasions, alongside the gifts and home accessories.
From the venueTHE USEFUL LITTLE DETAILS
Make a little plan.
Getting there
Look for the large lilac frontage near the junction of East Street and North Street, known as the Bullring. This is a town-centre shop that fits easily into a browse along East Street.
Before you set off
Visit during shop hours; the official website lists Monday to Saturday, 9.30am–5.30pm. Check directly for bank-holiday changes or before making a special journey.
Help choosing a present
The team can help you choose a gift and offers gift wrapping. Ask in store about the options for your purchase.
Check the detailsTry it on
There is a changing room, with staff available to help with clothing and styling.
Check the detailsCards for the occasion
Browse cards for birthdays and family occasions, including humorous designs, then choose wrapping paper to go with your gift.
Check the detailsA shopfront with a past
The building was a garage until the 1980s, with petrol pumps outside. Today that broad frontage makes room for the shop’s colourful displays.
Check the detailsDetails checked 23 October 2026. Opening times, menus and access arrangements can change; confirm anything essential directly before travelling.
About this feature & our sources
This is an editorial discovery, researched from the venue’s own information and any visitor sources linked here. It is not a paid partnership or a first-hand review. Individual visitor tips reflect that person’s experience; they are not a live rating or a promise about your visit.
- tessdesigns · shop and photographs ↗
- tessdesigns · the people behind the shop ↗
- tessdesigns · location and hours ↗
- tessdesigns · gifts ↗
- tessdesigns · clothing and fitting room ↗
- tessdesigns · cards and wrapping ↗
Each photo has its own source and credit in the gallery. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
