Rachel and Justin opened McCarron’s last summer, one of the first in a burgeoning series of businesses well worth a visit on the ever-improving Norman Road. If the couple look familiar, it might be because you’ve seen their faces on TV or at the theatre, as Rachel and Justin are both actors. When they launched their business here, they relegated their acting careers for a while to put down roots in St Leonards.

“The shop had to be here on Norman Road,” says Rachel, “We loved the feel of the street, and now that we’re part of the community we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” Barnaby, their first baby, is due imminently so should be here when you’re reading this.

Their gift shop is a joy to visit. Full of interesting and original lines in all manner of gifts (for yourself or a friend), it’s a showcase for local designers and makers alongside some unusual, top-notch designs from around the UK. It’s a perfect place for browsing: beautifully presented, relaxed and homely, reasonably priced, with many discoveries to be made on well-stocked shelves. And there’s always something new as they welcome new designs from suppliers.

“McCarron’s provides a framework for individuals to market their work,” says Rachel. From pottery through natural cosmetics to furniture and nest boxes for birds, there’s something to interest everyone. March is the perfect time of year to invest in one of Stewart Walton’s nest boxes – there are multi-story boxes for sociable sparrows designed in honour of Rock-a-Nore’s net shops, and boxes for robins in the style of beach huts, made at the Hastings and Bexhill Wood Recycling Project. Sally Walton, married to Stewart, creates handmade reusable shopping bags under the name Carry-a-Bag, selling some designs exclusively to McCarron’s. Also great for slinging over your shoulder if you like a capacious handbag.

Other goods include photographs by Alexander Brattell, whose work is also stocked at Eyestorm, the gallery by Tate Modern; lovely, well-priced jewellery by Maxime V Wareham; Hastings-based Bombarock boudoir furniture and rock-and-roll accessories; cosmetics by the Visionary Soap Company; and prints and cards by local artist Annie Rae. For something (and someone) really special, there’s exclusive and beautiful jewellery by local designer Jo McAllister (exclusive to McCarron’s and South Molton Street’s Electrum).

Not forgetting a wide range of original greetings cards. The McCarrons work with their suppliers to identify the most popular lines, so it’s a good way for a designer to get to know the market.

I spend a sociable hour at McCarron’s as suppliers and customers come and go. They all know the couple by name, and everyone enquires after Rachel’s bump. Once Barnaby joins the ranks, it will be even more a home-from-home, with a sitting room at the back of the shop for baby-feeding and changing duties, which anyone shopping on the street is also welcome to use.

There’s so much going on at this side of St Leonards, it’s well worth combining a visit to McCarron’s with an explore in this direction. “Norman Road is a well-kept secret and we’d like to share the secret,” says Justin.