The Maple Tree in Haddington is a one-stop shop for gifts for every possible occasion as well as an occasional indulgence for no reason other than you deserve it and it’s impossible to walk past the shop and not be enticed in.

Opened in October 2009 – the shop has just celebrated its first birthday – in premises that used to be the Buttercup Dairy Company in Court Street, the shop is owned by Linda Wood and Eric Low, a local couple who have a four-year-old daughter, Maya. Linda was born and brought up in the town and in her spare time still plays for the local ladies’ hockey team, however the shop is named after the tree of the Canadian national emblem, a maple leaf, in honour of Eric’s family in Canada.

Having space to browse with a buggy in tow in a child-friendly environment without risking a huge bill for damages is one of the Maple Tree’s other assets. While Linda is hands-on in every aspect of the day-to-day running of the business, from buying to payroll and admin, Eric helps with business decisions and planning while continuing to run the cancer charity, Myeloma UK.

Linda had always wanted to have her own retail business and when this landmark shop with its ornate hand-painted green tiled facade became available it was too good an opportunity to miss. More recently, the shop has been chosen as a test case to restore traditional shop fronts as part of a wider regeneration project within the town.

Her talent for discovering quirky, unusual but affordable items, makes browsing in this shop an absolute delight. "I wanted to be able to offer customers something different without being too expensive," says Linda, who also supports crafts and products made in Scotland, including Scottish Fine soaps, hand-made cards, Mary Buchanan handbags and Stooshie design cards. She is also happy to source one-off gifts if requested.

Currently adorning the display shelves are well-know brands such as Dcuk (The Duck Company), eco-friendly stationery made from real elephant dung, Cowshed toiletries, Letterfest personalised slate, stones, decorations and prints for the home, Gisela Graham decorative homeware, Transomina doorsteps and photo frames, Ever Earth toys and alphabet jigsaws for children, and ranges from Himalaya UK.

The interior of the shop smells as good as it looks, with a wonderful selection of candles, including The moral of this tale is this: why travel to the city in search of gift ideas and/or things that are different for the home and have to contend with traffic, parking, crowded shops and the rest, when the Maple Tree has it all?