The Secret Arcade is 6 months old today!

As with all newborns The Secret Arcade (TSA) has been growing and developing a big personality over the past 6 months, successfully building an impressive press archive and healthy visitor numbers. We think the current combination of shops work really well, giving visitors a unique shopping experience. The whole premise of TSA is its 'community' aspect - like minded designers who are all incredibly passionate about what they make and sell. Presenting a range of carefully edited shops under one roof not only brings great shopping to people of discerning taste but helps all arcade shops to promote themselves side by side - each receiving the benefit of the other's success. We see this cross promotion as one of the key elements of the continuing success of the TSA - all for one and one for all!

The TSA team has taken some time out over January to evaluate the past 6 months of activity which has thrown up some interesting trends on how visitors use the site. We are now busy implementing some modifications that will make it even easier to navigate the site and developing a programme of great events for the next 6 months. One of the areas we want to explore is a 'behind the scenes' look at the people who are the driving force behind the arcade shops and will be publishing weekly interviews of all TSA shop owners to find out what makes them tick! So make a date to meet these incredible people over the next few months ... and lots more besides!

Before we sign off today we thought we would leave you with a selection of some of the successes we have already tucked under our belt:

• Helen Musslewhite's arcade shop featured in Daily Candy which brought a blast of almost 10,000 visitors to the TSA site. It also led to Helen being offered two children's book commissions and an invitation to design the Christmas windows for the prestigious Smythson stationer's in Bond Street.
• Ghost's arcade shop window was featured in full glorious colour in Easy Living Magazine in December promoting TSA 'Christmas Treasure Hunt' event.
• Louise Body's arcade shop featured boldly along side a feature about Orla Keily in The Resident Magazine that serves the lucrative areas of Chelsea, Kensington and Mayfair as well as having a vast online readership.
• Marie Claire Online featured TSA entitled "Discover an online treasure trove" naming Alexia Fashion, Clara Francis and Louise Body and illustrated the site with the arcade windows of Tamara Fogle and Beautiful Soul.
• Easy Living Magazine contacted us in October '10 to see if we could recommend any of the Secret Arcade shops for their Feb/ March 2011 edition for a 'Bespoke Special' feature. After sending them a great list they chose Essentially-me to feature their bespoke perfumes.

These are just a few examples of the coverage some of TSA shops have achieved to date and if you think these are quite something make sure you keep reading to find out what our fantastic arcade shops have in store for you over the next 6 months!