(Image: Collectables)
A North East-born business that began trading from a humble barrow has grown into a well-loved retail success story, a story many people don't know.
Collectables, now a popular gift and homeware retailer, first started in the Metrocentre in 1986.
The family-run business began selling Geordie gifts and souvenirs from a single barrow before opening its first store and expanding across the North East.
David Lewis, who left school at 16 and now leads the company, told the Northern Echo: "We started in a barrow at the mall, mum and dad were in the business, dad did the retail, he had a wine business too, mum was looking after the clerical side, she worked in school.
"We would sell Geordie gifts and souvenirs."
"Dad was sometimes asked to advise people on setting up businesses in the mall and he would always recommend a certain unit that he liked, anyway, he ended up taking that one himself.
"When we first started though, when we just had the barrow, we would do gift shows, and dad quickly learned that people liked to collect the things we were selling."
"That's where the name came from, people wanting more of things – collectables."
The business grew steadily throughout the 1990s, opening additional stores in Teesside, Stockton, Darlington, Sunderland and Cramlington.
Collectables has also made a name for itself with memorable publicity stunts.
In 1991, the company parked a car on four Bone China cups to demonstrate their strength.
David Lewis and a Ford held up by Collectables' China cups on Teesside as part of a stunt in 1991. (Image: Provided)
Mr Lewis said: "We started with a Ford, but then we got friendly with Peter Vardy and did the stunt again with an old Aston Martin."
After a fire at their Teesside Portrack Lane store, the team repeated the stunt with a fire engine.
Mr Lewis said: "We had a fire at our Teesside Portrack Lane store, so when we reopened the store we did the stunt again, this time with a fire engine on six China cups.
"That was around 1996 or 1997."
By the early 2000s, the retail landscape had changed, and the company needed to adapt.
Mr Lewis said: "Glass and China shops weren't as popular.
"Customers still liked us, so we listened to customers and what they wanted, and that continues to be how we evolve."
Today, Collectables continues to be a family affair.
Metrocentre store, 2025 (Image: Collectables)
Mr Lewis said: "Dad still has an interest in the business.
"I have three kids in the business helping, one working full-time and two helping during their university studies."
In a nod to its beginnings, the company recently launched 'Barrow 17,' a festive pop-up in the Metrocentre that pays tribute to the original barrow format and its original number.
Mr Lewis said the business has had a very good year, with items like Squishies proving especially popular.
He also took the opportunity to thank the company’s loyal customers.
Mr Lewis said: "Many lovely customers often bring cards and presents for the staff" they have got to know over the years.
The company is now preparing to relocate its Darlington store to a much larger site.
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Mr Lewis said: "We are just about to move our Darlington store, it will be open in a couple of weeks.
"We are starting work on that shortly."
"It will be three times the size of our existing store in Darlington.
Mr Lewis explained that they are going from around 850sq ft to about 4,000sq ft, right in the centre of Darlington near Primark.
In October, Collectables was honoured at the Metrocentre’s 40th Anniversary Retailer Awards for being one of just 23 retailers to have traded at the centre since it first opened in 1986.