Citizen Home

This newly opened shop is the latest in a number of excellent independent businesses to set up in the famous Jewellery Quarter area of Birmingham and it compliments well the many already there.
It’s a gift shop with a difference, the difference being that profits are reinvested in the good works undertaken in the city by its parent social enterprise. So when you buy something here you also leave behind some added value that’s reinvested in the community.
I’m not sure whether everything sold is actually produced by other social enterprises, but I think that is the aspiration. The range of stock actually surprised me; there’s everything from wrapping paper, scented candles and retro vases to gift boxes filled with all kinds of wonderful stuff, so it’s an ideal stop off for Christmas gift hunting. When I popped in I right away found several items to add to my shopping list, including an item or two for those difficult to please folks we all struggle with.
The shop itself isn’t that easy to notice at present, but it’s only been open a few days. If I didn’t live within a minute or two I may have missed it, but I had seen the shop had been taken over, having been empty for quite a long time now, so my curiosity was pricked. I’d suggest an A-​Board outside to help potential customers notice as they walk down the street.
It’s got a great old-​style but rather discrete frontage that belies the size of the interior. OK, it’s not huge but it’s actually very nice and bright inside with lots of room for stock. Knowing how the building was before I’d say they’ve worked hard to bring it up to scratch!
The staff are pleasant and attentive but don’t hassle or linger. I felt quite comfortable browsing. While the shop had one or two people in while I was there, three staff did seem like overkill, but it’s clearly great work experience for them and that’s part of the social enterprise idea I guess. They’ll probably need three as we approach Christmas!
This end of Vyse Street was fairly dead when I first moved here but over the last few years has picked up nicely. This is a lovely and welcome addition, very well located close to the brilliant, rather fascinating JQ museum and a couple of excellent cafés, one a traditional egg and chips place, possible the best in the area, the second more a deli and tea shop (also really good).
So you can have a walk down the street checking out the jewellery (remember to haggle!) and the famous museum, pop into Citizen Home for a few gifts and a browse, then finish off with some lunch or a decent cuppa! I wish the business well — a great idea that seeks to make the world a better place!