Award celebrates milestone for homegrown creative business that started in a 10-seat village studio
Independent creative pottery painting studio Pretty Pøts has been awarded Best New Brand Arrival at the McArthurGlen West Midlands Designer Outlet Awards 2025 — a significant achievement for a business that began in a small Staffordshire village less than a decade ago.
Founded in 2016 by Local businesswoman Sophie Kolakovic at Pillaton Hall Farm, Pretty Pøts started as a 10-seat pottery painting studio with a simple vision: to create a welcoming space where people could slow down, connect and get creative.
In 2017, the business expanded and relocated to Milford, Stafford, incorporating a café element to enhance the customer experience and encourage longer, more social visits. The move marked the beginning of Pretty Pøts’ evolution from a small studio into a design-led experiential destination, furthered by the need for social interaction following the Covid lockdown the importance of community and meaningful moments became ever more important.
Over the years, the brand has grown in both reputation and ambition — hosting events and collaborations with major names including Selfridges, Starbucks, and Pinterest.
In 2025, Pretty Pøts opened its second location at McArthurGlen West Midlands Designer Outlet — bringing its signature pink, Instagrammable, community-focused concept into a high-footfall retail destination.
The Best New Brand Arrival award recognises the standout new addition to the centre, celebrating innovation, customer experience and commercial impact and beating high street names Ralph Lauren and French Connection.
Importantly, the new studio has created local employment opportunities, building a team of over 30 people from within the surrounding community. The brand is proudly run and championed by local young women, reflecting the brand’s commitment to empowering female leadership and nurturing talent at grassroots level.
Founder - Sophie Kolakovic said: “What makes this award so special is remembering where we started — a 10-seat studio in Pillaton with only friends and family as our team — and seeing how far we’ve come. We’re now a team of 30 people, all from the local area with a shared belief in what we have to offer and building a community space where people make lasting memories and keepsakes. To be recognised at McArthurGlen amongst such established brands is a proud moment for our entire team, I am so proud of all they have achieved and so grateful for everyone who supported us on this incredible journey.”
Marketing Director - Lauren Boate said: “We’ve always believed in the power of creative, experiential spaces within retail. Customers want more than just shopping; they want connection, atmosphere and something memorable. We’re so proud to be trying to lead the way in this area. At the heart of all we do is the customers experience and making sure they leave having had a great time”
Pretty Pøts continues to champion experiential retail — blending creativity, café culture and community — and has plans for further growth following the success of its West Midlands launch.
