A Corner of Edinburgh That Feels Like Home

Finlay & Greig occupies a distinctive position in Edinburgh's independent retail landscape. Founded in 2016 by childhood friends Maren Finlay and Callum Greig, the company began as a small shop on Dundas Street, selling hand-picked homewares, Scottish-made ceramics, and carefully sourced gifts. What started as a modest venture driven by shared taste has grown into a multi-site retailer with a devoted following, a growing online presence, and a reputation for discovering emerging makers before anyone else does.

The original Dundas Street shop remains the company's flagship, but Finlay & Greig now operates three Edinburgh locations, including a newer Stockbridge store and a concession within a prominent department store on Princes Street. The brand's expansion has been deliberate rather than rapid, guided by a philosophy that every new space should feel considered, never formulaic.

What They Sell, and Why It Matters

Walk into any Finlay & Greig store and you will notice a consistent sensibility: clean lines, natural materials, muted tones punctuated by the occasional splash of colour. The product range spans tableware, candles, textiles, stationery, small-batch skincare, and a rotating selection of artisan food and drink items suited for gifting. Prices range from accessible to aspirational, but the common thread is an emphasis on craftsmanship and provenance.

The company sources roughly 40 percent of its stock from Scottish makers, with the remainder drawn from independent studios and small manufacturers across Scandinavia, Portugal, and Japan. This international scope gives the stores a cosmopolitan quality, while the Scottish contingent keeps things grounded in a sense of place. Maren Finlay has described the buying approach as "collecting things we would want in our own homes, then sharing them with people who think the same way."

"We never set out to build a brand. We set out to build a shop we would want to visit. The brand part came later, almost on its own."
— Callum Greig, Co-Founder

Design as a Daily Practice

Visual merchandising is central to the Finlay & Greig experience. Each store is styled with a level of care more commonly associated with gallery spaces, and the displays change frequently, reflecting seasonal shifts, new arrivals, and thematic ideas that the founders develop in collaboration with their retail team. Staff members are encouraged to contribute to the visual direction of the shop floor, and many of the company's best display concepts have originated with team members rather than management.

This collaborative approach extends to the brand's social media presence, which relies heavily on in-store photography and behind-the-scenes content rather than polished campaign imagery. The resulting aesthetic is warm but understated, consistent with the stores themselves. Finlay & Greig's Instagram following, now approaching 90,000, has become a meaningful driver of online sales, particularly during the gifting season from October through December.

The Edinburgh Identity

Edinburgh's character runs through the company in ways both obvious and subtle. The city's architectural beauty, its literary heritage, and its long tradition of independent retail all inform the brand's tone. Finlay & Greig has collaborated with Edinburgh-based illustrators on exclusive product lines, partnered with local cafés for in-store pop-up events, and contributed to community initiatives including the Leith Late arts festival and the Old Town Development Trust.

The founders have spoken openly about the challenges of running an independent retail business in a city where rents have risen sharply and footfall patterns have shifted since the pandemic. Their response has been to double down on the in-store experience, investing in staff training, events programming, and a loyalty scheme that rewards repeat customers with early access to new collections and maker meet-and-greet evenings.

Growing Thoughtfully

Finlay & Greig's online shop launched in 2019 and now accounts for roughly 30 percent of total revenue. The company has invested in sustainable packaging, including recyclable gift boxes and compostable void fill, and has introduced a gift-wrapping service that reflects the same attention to detail found in the physical stores. Fulfilment is handled in-house from a small warehouse in Leith, staffed by a dedicated team that the founders describe as essential to maintaining quality control.

Looking ahead, the company has indicated interest in opening a presence in Glasgow and potentially exploring wholesale partnerships with select boutique hotels. However, growth remains secondary to maintaining the qualities that earned the brand its reputation: a keen editorial eye, genuine relationships with makers, and a retail experience that feels personal rather than transactional.

Working at Finlay & Greig

The company currently employs around 35 people across its three stores, warehouse, and small head office. The culture is informal but exacting. Team members are expected to develop real product knowledge, engage meaningfully with customers, and contribute ideas that shape how the stores look and feel. Training covers everything from the stories behind individual makers to the principles of effective gift recommendation.

Staff benefits include a generous product discount, flexible scheduling that accommodates study and caregiving commitments, and regular team outings to maker studios and trade fairs. Several current team members joined as part-time sales assistants and have moved into buying, visual merchandising, or e-commerce roles as the company has grown.

For those drawn to independent retail, design-led products, and a workplace where taste and attentiveness are valued above all else, Finlay & Greig offers something increasingly rare: a company that has grown without losing sight of why it started.