the merchant's table

The Merchant’s Table is an online shop and showroom selling beautiful, contemporary hand-crafted objects for the home by independent British makers and artists. We seek work with a narrative running through it, a recognition of provenance and the influence of history and heritage craftsmanship skills. 

In our very small way we are striving to help promote and support British Heritage Crafts with the work we select and sell from The Merchant’s Table. Some of the skills we include are on the Heritage Crafts’ Red List of Endangered Crafts.

By selling only independent maker’s work we celebrate a more sustainable and considered way of living.

Behind the Merchant's Table

Susanna Cook

Behind The Merchant’s Table is Susanna Cook, Founder & Creative Director of Allies Design, a studio who proudly work for independent, principled and visionary food clients, the best within their field. (Oh and that is Monty, Susanna’s loyal Toy Parti Poodle!)

The Merchant’s Table and Allies Design Studio share a strong relationship with food and a mutual intention to work only with independent makers.

In our

Design Studio

Allies Design Studio create branding, packaging, literature, merchandising and overall styling for independent, principled and visionary food clients.


Working within food and drink, we have always been fascinated by the table and what it represents to different people. For us, it is a place to share; creativity, experiences, knowledge and food. The Merchant’s Table has evolved as a natural extension of the work we do within our design studio and has given us the opportunity to bring exceptional makers, artists and producers to our table to collaborate with them and create limited editions you will not find anywhere else.