Shop keeping seamstress weaves new magic
A CAMPBELTOWN institution closed its doors last Saturday but will reopen under new management tomorrow.
Dress shop Zena’s’ first lease of life, as Miss Fitz, was in St Andrew’s Square in 1997. Latterly it was renamed and moved to its current location at 47 Longrow in 2010 and, with new owner Clare Mead at the helm, will continue to trade.
Proprietor Zena Coffield said: ‘I remember the first day in 1997 when my partner John and I opened our shop selling haberdashery.
‘We made curtains, repaired furniture and offered an alteration service.
‘We sold two reels of thread and I thought I’d made a huge mistake.
‘I had no idea there was such a demand for clothing alterations, and other weird stuff.
I have made a cover for a submarine porthole, a car-shelf cover, repaired men’s Y-fronts and other various miracles.’
Alterations
The business grew but with three children and no home life Ms Coffield gave up the shop and moved the alterations to her sister and brother-in-law’s shop Penny Lane.
They expanded and bought the Toy Box and once again Zena’s was on the move.
Ms Coffield said: ‘I would work in the shop and do my alterations through the back.
‘Little did I realise that a few years later I would be in exactly the same premises at 47 Longrow.’
Ms Coffield had a break for a couple of years and worked from home selling dolls’ house miniatures, which she hopes to redevelop in the future.
Zena’s needed office and storage space and rented another premises in Kirk Street.
Ms Coffield said: ‘Building regulations meant I had to open to the public or apply for change of use. I gave the alterations another go and stored the miniatures in the back shop.
‘We put Victorian clothing and sewing implements in the window as we didn’t intend selling anything. Once again the alterations started flying in and miniatures took a back seat.
‘We moved to 47 Longrow in 2010 and changed the name to Zena’s. Everyone had always called it that anyway.’
In 2014, a new chapter began when Ms Coffield became trust manager for South Kintyre Development Trust, a community-led charitable organisation.
Ms Coffield said: ‘I love Kintyre and felt there was more I could do for the area but had never worked out exactly how.
‘My daughter Saffron came in to run the shop but she is off to university and I would be working around 60 hours a week.
‘Something had to give.
‘A few weeks ago family were visiting and I couldn’t get time off. I made the decision there and then and have never looked back.
‘Zena’s reopens selling women’s clothing and accessories as before.
‘I wish Clare every success and hope that the community will continue to support her as they supported me over the past 19 years.
‘They are the thing I miss the most but I have no regrets.’