WELCOME TO
NAYSMITH LTD
OUR BRANDS INCLUDE
BROLLIESGALORE
Opened in 2003, we are now known for having one of the largest collections of quality umbrellas in the UK. We see umbrellas as one of life’s little essentials. You will be spoilt for choice from a simple compact folding umbrella to handcrafted haute couture Italian & French umbrellas and sun parasols. So whether you’re looking for a retro ladies see-through dome umbrella, a child’s safety umbrella or a classic black gents umbrella we are sure to have an umbrella which suits you and your family needs perfectly.
THE STICK & CANE SHOP
Founded in 2008, and we have established ourselves with one of the best collections of quality walking sticks here in the UK. Stocking the latest walking stick and dress cane designs from Classic Canes and Charles Buyers, we try to balance the more traditional walking stick varieties with newer innovations. In recent years we have added exciting brands such as Switch Sticks, Flexyfoot, Blue Badge Co. and Brazos. We also offer a range of prize-winning handmade shepherd’s crooks and cleeks made in Britain by skilled craftsmen.
CHRYSALIN UMBRELLAS
Our in-house designer brand, Chrysalin, was founded in the early days of Brolliesgalore to provide our customers with umbrellas specifically designed for weddings and events. So whether it is the latest in sumptuous frilly parasol designs that you seek, or the exquisite elegant curved lines of the scalloped pagoda umbrella, our design team is constantly evolving our umbrella designs to keep pace of changing fashions, while maintaining that vintage style we all love, that makes these umbrellas timeless and classic.
EST. SINCE
2003
COMPANY HISTORY
OLD BLACK & WHITE MOVIES TO MODERN DAY
Surely everyone loves an old classic movie now and then? Back in another time where people were elegant, carried an umbrella or a walking stick, the actors using them like an extension of their own self, like Fred Astaire in Top Hat or Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain.
Images of Eliza Doolittle at Ascot in My Fair Lady with opulent lace parasols, retro yellow see-through domes being used by Goldie Hawn (and of course by The Queen!), the stylised scalloped umbrella for The Penguin in Batman. Question was… where do you find these fabulous umbrellas?!
A wise man has enough sense to get out of the rain!
MARY POPPINS OF COURSE
It is safe to say, that as a child Christine was obsessed with Mary Poppins and her Parrot Umbrella… “I always remembered my Grandma giving me my first umbrella, a yellow folding duck umbrella! It wasn’t a talking parrot, but it was as good as! I loved it but being so young I could never remember what became of it” So the search began…
LINDA GOING SOLO IN 2003
On one dreich day Christine was sitting in her Edinburgh Shop with no customers daring to brave the downpour of rain, she began searching the internet and realised that she could not find anyone selling unique umbrellas online… and wondered… jotting down names and doodling all the umbrella shapes and designs she could think of.
That evening she got home to find Linda (aka mum) planning a family meeting. She had already been buying and selling Atari parts through eBay so had a small cottage industry going on with a basic despatch setup. Online Shopping had taken off in America but was still in its infancy here in the UK. At the time Amazon just sold books and online life was uncomplicated. She announced to the family she was going to start up an online business and wanted ideas on what to sell… Christine thought well there is a coincidence and piped up and said, “How about Umbrellas?” Where upon the family looked at her as if she had grown a third eye and went “Umbrellas?!” with screwed-up faces.
After a few other suggestions, and giving Linda time to do her own investigations, she realised that there might be something to this idea. They soon formulated a plan and Linda went to work building up a small selection of stock and getting the secure payment gateways and new despatch processes put in place, while Christine built and designed their first online shop, Brolliesgalore went live in November 2003 and it grew from there…
2006 By this time there was umbrellas in every room, cupboard and available space in the house, Christine and Gilbert joined the business full time and we moved everything to the new warehouse and reclaimed the house as a home.
2008 The Stick & Cane Shop and Chrysalin began
2012 New online Platform for Stick & Cane Shop
2013 New online Platform for Brolliesgalore
2018 100% Width theme re-design on Brolliesgalore and The Stick & Cane Shop
2019 ShipStation is introduced with integrated shipping, allowing us to process orders and labels much more efficiently.
2020 COVID-19 Hit – but the rain keeps falling and people need their independence from getting from A to B so we shall keep working away in our little bubble, we make it through to the other side.
2021 We have moved platform to Bluepark and customers can now enjoy our new layouts on both Brolliesgalore and The Stick & Cane Shop. Clean and clear layout with an easy secure checkout.
2023 Two decades ago, amidst the pitter-patter of raindrops, a vibrant idea was born – Brolliesgalore. Brolliesgalore turns 20, Nov 3rd 2023
What started as a humble venture has blossomed into a haven for rain enthusiasts and fashion aficionados alike. We always say in Brollyland that time moves fast – 20 years has flown by! From our humble origins in my parent’s spare bedroom, when Amazon sold books and no one had heard of Facebook, to evolving into the trusted go-to brolly shop we are today, this journey has been truly extraordinary, and it’s all because of you – our valued customers. Thank you for coming with us on this roller coaster journey!
SERVICES
STAFF GALLERY
We are committed to providing a wide variety of choice at each of our unique online stores, this, combined with a rapid response to orders, facilitate the fastest turnaround time humanly possible.
Christine Naysmith
Director
Linda Naysmith
Director
Scott Hunter
Despatch Manager
Barney Jack-Russel
Office Morale Manager
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