Putney High Street's Blåbär Nordic Living Marks 10 Years

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Independent retailer was set up by Sandra West and Oliver Goodier

Blowing out the candles at the tenth birthday party

February 4, 2026

An independent Scandinavian café and lifestyle store in Putney is marking its 10th anniversary this month, a milestone that comes at a time when many small retailers continue to face pressure from rising costs and competition from national chains.

Blåbär Nordic Living, founded in 2016 by partners Sandra West and Oliver Goodier, has become a familiar presence on the Lower Richmond Road, known for its Nordic-influenced design, café menu and curated homeware. The pair say the business has grown by focusing on community, atmosphere and a slower pace of retail.

West, who grew up in Sweden, originally set out to create a space that reflected the warmth and informality of Scandinavian cafés. “Reaching ten years is a milestone that belongs to our customers as much as it does to us,” she said. “Watching this community grow, from the families who visit every weekend to the remote workers who use our space as an office, has been the most rewarding part of this journey.”

The store’s look and layout have been shaped by Goodier, who continues to work as an art director in the film industry, with credits including Dunkirk and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He describes the shop as “a living set”, with its design evolving gradually over the years. “Sandra is very much the heartbeat of Blåbär,” he said. “My role has been to think about atmosphere and flow — how the space feels when you walk in.”

Sandra West and Oliver Goodier launched the store in 2016

The pair have steered the business through a decade that included Brexit, the pandemic and shifting retail habits. Despite those challenges, Blåbär has built a loyal customer base and become part of the area’s independent retail landscape.

Looking ahead, West and Goodier plan to expand the brand’s reach by introducing a line of Blåbär-branded lifestyle products and further developing their online shop, while keeping the physical store rooted in Putney.

Ten years after opening, Blåbär remains centred on the values that shaped it at the start: a focus on design, a sense of place and a community of regulars who have helped sustain it through a turbulent decade for small businesses.

 

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