Town shop marks 70 years
A BELOVED and popular family-run business will be celebrating its 70th birthday with customers this weekend.
Castle Street-based Johnsons sells lingerie and women’s clothing and has been open to its loyal customers since 1947.
It has gone on to become one of Hinckley’s oldest-running businesses, specialising in bra fitting and selling well-known brands such as Triumph, Fantasie, Freya, Lejaby, Aubade, Chantelle, Charnos, Bestform, Passionata.
The family business will be celebrating with a series of events, including a cake cutting by Bill Cullen, chief executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council on Friday morning.
There will also be a free raffle running from Thursday May 11 until Saturday May 27.
The shop was first opened on Thursday May 15 1947 by Edward and Joan Johnson, selling Liberty bodies, corsetry and underwear.
Johnsons is now run by their daughters, Gayner and Jane, who took over in 1971. The pair went on to extend the shop to sell more women’s clothing, as well as nightwear and swimwear.
Gayner said that her proudest moment was winning the Drapers Record Lingerie Retailer of the Year Award in the 90s, and was happy to celebrate the company’s big milestone.
She added: “A successful family business must be committed to a set of values.
“It gives the family a sense of purpose and the opportunity to commit to something.
“While there are considerable challenges to running a family business, there are also considerable rewards. It is also very rewarding to be involved with and support all the town centre initiatives and partnerships.
“It creates strong family relationships and also lasting friendships with customers and establishes a legacy for future generations to be proud of.
“We expect the business to last long into the future and thank all our customers for their friendship and loyalty, and our wonderful staff for their knowledge and expertise.”