Small online firm grows into full retail shopfront
Pair of entrepreneurs create Fareham store after internet business takes off
A PAIR of entrepreneurs have opened their own shopfront after growing their business over lockdown.
Friends and business partners Rhona Rogers and Jacquie Fitton started Luxury Gift in a Box just before the beginning of lockdown in 2020, with the aim of creating a small business to keep them busy for a few days a week.
Now, just over two years on, the pair have opened their first physical shopfront in Fareham after the online business has grown significantly.
The Luxury Gift in a Box shop, at Kiln Acre Business
Centre off Wickham Road, officially opened today with Councillor Katrina Trott cutting the ribbon and cake.
It started from Rhona’s kitchen table at her home in Fareham, with just her and Jacquie running it.
The business quickly grew through lockdown, so they moved into the Kiln Acre unit, which has since been converted into the shopfront and they now have around eight team members.
Rhona said: ‘We didn’t expect it to grow like it has, but it has been an incredible journey taking it from something that we thought would keep us busy for a few days a week, to now working hard most days with an amazing team helping us.’
The shop offers a range of themed boxes full of handpicked gift items, such as a pamper box, a new baby box and gardening lovers’ box.
It will be open from Monday until Friday from 10am until 3pm and will run alongside the existing online business, which allows people to order a box of their choice either to hand to a loved one themselves or get it delivered directly to them.