Laura Jackson, creative director and broadcaster, has revealed her favourite shops, gadgets, and guilty pleasures in an interview with the Guardian's "How I Shop" series. Jackson, who co-founded homewares website Glassette in 2021 and skincare brand Rocco, shared that her most-used gadget is a Berkey water filter, and her greatest vintage find is kitchen cabinetry reclaimed from a church.
Everyday Essentials and Food Shopping
Jackson does a big weekly shop online from Ocado, but she also frequents Broadway Market in east London, where she works. She buys bread from a bakery and eggs from a source she trusts, and she also likes Pesky Fish and the Ethical Butcher. Her repeat purchases include good olive oil, Greek yoghurt, fresh fruit, and flowers, which she buys every week without fail.
For coffee, Jackson uses a cafetière, always with good quality, freshly ground beans. She has a 1-litre Bodum cafetière at home and at the office, and she loves Hard Lines coffee or Union. She described the cafetière as looking great on the shelf and in the middle of a messy desk.
Favourite Shops and Gadgets
Her favourite online store is the Newt in Somerset, which she uses for gift buying, praising its curated selections and home and garden section. She buys its cordials repeatedly. Her favourite bricks-and-mortar shop is her local Boots in Westfield, where she has shopped since childhood and is known by the staff. She brings her empties there to recycle and enjoys discovering new brands.
Jackson's most-used gadget is her Berkey water filter, which sits on her counter and is used throughout the day. She said, "It sounds unglamorous, but once you have one, you genuinely can't go back. The water tastes completely different, and it's great for a busy house like mine."
Fashion, Vintage Finds, and Gifts
For underwear, Jackson prioritises comfort, choosing M&S for everyday wear, but she has recently fallen in love with Fruity Booty, particularly its bridal range. She joked about renewing her vows as an excuse to wear it, but her husband has yet to respond. Her saved search on eBay and Vinted is vintage Missoni knitwear from the 70s and 80s, which she described as a victory to find. She is also searching for vintage desk lamps, shelving, and office chairs for a studio revamp.
Her greatest vintage find is the cabinetry in her kitchen, reclaimed from a church and restored to become the centrepiece of the room. She noted that every visitor asks about it, and it has more character than anything new. The best present she has given is a photobook, which she spends hours curating to tell a story. The best present she has received is a book of handwritten notes from wedding guests, which she said grows more precious with time.
Splurges, Savings, and Regrets
Jackson's biggest splurge is travel, as she prefers spending on trips that shift perspective. She scrimps on mechanical pencils, which she loves for list-making and note-taking, buying them from Muji or as a multipack from the supermarket. Her most regretted purchases are those made when first buying a house, before she learned to take time to understand the space and how it is used.
With £20, she would buy a good candle or the best bunch of flowers from the local market. With £200, she would head to a market or reclamation yard to see what found her, noting that budget can get something genuinely special. Her last treat for herself was a bunch of cosmos from the market, which she placed in individual stem vases around the house.
