Home & Gift, Harrogate - Gift Focus magazine

now or never
What do you consider to be your key lines
and core customer base?
My best sellers so far have been the jewellery
I stock (the Bryony Jade collection is currently
exclusive to Cariad in this area), and the
various little hanging hearts and birds from
Rex International.
I would say my core customers have been
women of all ages. I do stock things for young
boys and men but it’s mainly women who
come in and buy.
How have you sourced the majority of your
product lines?
I worked at Kate Hamilton Hunter Studio so
that’s how I was aware of that line of jewellery.
That’s also where I met Bryony who makes
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the Bryony Jade Collection. I have always
liked JoJo Jewellery so I approached her
through her website. I’ve also been buying
Rex International products for presents for
my own friends through their Dotcomgiftshop
website so I approached them and RJB Stone
at Spring Fair International in Birmingham
earlier this year. Mother Love is a small local
business based in Dolgarrog that makes
upcycled cushions from old shirts, t-shirts
and denim. I will be attending Autumn Fair
International later this year to source more
lines but I will also be using the internet to find
local producers and crafts people that do not
attend the larger trade shows.
What kind of help and advice have you been
able to source?
I was unable to get any financial help from
anywhere as my business didn’t quite fit any
of the criteria for grants but the Business Link
website has been my Bible since I set out on
this journey.
I am very lucky to have a graphic designer
as a close friend who offered to design all
my branding. They designed and organised
everything for me, my business cards, posters,
gift vouchers, tags, logo. They were a great
help and gave the business a very real and
professional feel.
How much attention do you pay to the
presentation of your stock?
I’m aiming to change my window display
roughly every month to suit special events
or holidays that are coming up. I will also
re-jig how things are laid out inside the shop
highlighting different products every couple of
weeks or so.
How valuable is modern technology to
the business?
I don’t currently have a website but I will begin
to research and build one over the summer. I
intend to sell things through the website so I’m
aiming to have it up and running in time for
the Christmas trade.
At the moment I have a Facebook page for
the shop so that I can let people know of new
stock that’s been delivered and special offers
or events I’ll be having. I’m also planning on
writing a blog on Wordpress.
What do you see as key factors for retail
success in 2011?
I strongly believe that it is important to
constantly refresh stock so that I can always
offer new and returning customers something
different and up to date with current trends. I
also hope that special offers and promotions
will help draw in the customers.
What are your plans for the future?
To launch my website enabling me to reach
a bigger customer base and also to open the
back room of the shop giving me twice as
much space on the shop floor. I also hope to
build a good and loyal customer base.
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