One Month In: What Opening a Store Actually Looks Like

Before anything else, thank you. Truly.

We opened our first Sensory Playground store on Saturday 4th March 2026, which is one month today at The Old Kent Market. To everyone who has walked through the door, stopped for a chat, shared a kind word, or told someone else about us. It has meant more than we can properly put into words.

While opening a shop is a big moment, what has mattered most is what has happened since. The conversations. The questions. The small moments where someone picks something up and lets us know it helped them or their little one. That is why we are here.

This was never just about putting products on shelves. It was about creating a space that feels easy to walk into. Somewhere you do not have to explain yourself. Somewhere you can take your time, look around, try things, and work out what feels right for you.

Not everyone wants to buy something online and hope for the best. Sometimes you want to see it. Hold it. Test it. Or just speak to someone. Over the past month, we have seen just how important that is.

We have had parents looking for something to help their child focus. Adults trying to manage overwhelming days. People who were not sure what they needed, just that something was not working.

And what we have learned is simple. The right tool can make a real difference. But being understood matters just as much.

We have also learned that people do not always come in for a quick purchase. They come in for reassurance. For ideas. For a bit of clarity in something that can feel overwhelming. That is something we will always make time for.

We also have to mention where we are.

The Old Kent Market is full of independent businesses, all doing their own thing. It is the kind of place where you come in for one thing and end up discovering something else entirely. From day one, we have felt genuinely welcomed here, and that has made settling in a lot easier.

If you have not visited yet, it is worth a trip. Not just for us, but for everything under one roof.

So, one month in. We are still learning. Still listening. Still building something that works for the people who walk through the door.

If you have visited, thank you. If you have been meaning to, we are here.

You will find us at just opposite Turner Contemporary from Wednesday to Sunday:

The Old Kent Market

8 Fort Hill

Margate

Kent

CT9 1HD