If you grew up in Ipswich, chances are you’re more than familiar with The Purple Shop. You know, the big purple one on Fonnereau Road near Christchurch Park? You can’t miss it.
For generations, the Thomas family has been supplying the people of Ipswich with more crystals, incense, piercings, and trinkets than you could shake a stick at.
And last year, the town centre favourite celebrated its 50th anniversary. As part of my series on independent shops in Ipswich, I was keen to find out more about the shop, its history, and what its future looks like.
So I met with owner David Thomas – who took over the family business four years ago.
“We opened in 1971, and we actually started off as The Curiosity Shop,” explains David.
“But because it was purple, everyone called it ‘The Purple Shop’, and that ended up becoming its official name.”
The rest, as they say, is history. The shop is actually the second longest-running retailer in Ipswich, after Elmy Cycles which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022.
David’s parents took on the business from his grandparents in the 90s, and before that they had taken it over from his aunt and uncle in the early 80s.
"My parents were considering selling it. I said: ‘No that’s silly, you’re only going to get what the building is worth and not the business.’ It was ticking over and wasn’t making a lot of money, but I reckoned I could turn it around.”
Over the past five decades, The Purple Shop has become known for selling crystals, incense, Tarot cards, pipes, and clothes.
“We have vintage designer clothes in the corner over there," he points out. "Like Tommy Hilfiger. We used to sell Indian fashion but we don’t sell as much as we used to simply because we can’t get it anymore.”
Without a doubt, piercings are the shop’s most popular offering.
“When I took it over, I made the conscious decision to be a body piercer, so I pierce as well as run the shop. Piercings are the main part of our business, and my dad Tommo was the first body piercer in Ipswich. In the first couple of years when my parents owned the business, it was struggling, and they were looking to do something new and innovative.
“So my dad went on a course, and did another one which allowed him to train people. He ended up becoming a training body piercer, and by doing so brought in more people. Our manager has been here since she was 18 and she’s now in her mid-40s.”
Helping David pierce the people of Ipswich are Kailea and Jodie, who work from the stations downstairs.
“We also now have a tattoo studio downstairs, which has two more piercing stations,” he adds.
David brought on local tattoo artist Nat Blair a year and a half ago, which has helped expand the shop’s clientele further.
But wait – there's more.
“There’s also a recording studio upstairs,” adds David - who goes by the moniker Briti$h in the music industry.
In keeping with the purple theme, his recording studio is called Purple Loft Studio. David is also part of a hip-hop crew called Purple Loft Crew (comprised of three MCs and a DJ/producer).
“We hope to start touring this year, and hopefully in the future we can get a small venue to do live music – and maybe call it ‘The Purple Lounge’. It’s not just a shop, but almost a purple empire. I want to keep the purple theme as it’s my family’s legacy – and it’s also a great colour.”
With big dreams must come a bigger shop – and that’s next on David’s to-do list.
“We’re actually considering a new location – and it’s not because we want to, but because the building is so old. No matter what you fix, something else goes wrong. It’s like I’m always chasing my tail.”
David is currently in the new stages of finding new premises. But will they be purple, too?
“I don’t think we could paint the outside, but we’d have bright lights and we’d paint the inside purple. It would be a lot nicer for what we do, what with the tattooing and piercing. Other than installing some sinks, we wouldn’t need to do much and we’d be good to go.”
The future shop – which would still be in town centre – would mark an exciting new dawn for the Ipswich icon.
“We’re not going anywhere – we’ll be here forever.”
To find out more about The Purple Shop, visit facebook.com/purpleshopipswich
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