‘YULE LOVE OUR FESTIVE CAVE!’
It’s Christmas all year round at town shop
WE may be heading into a longawaited summer but in one corner of North Staffordshire it is still Christmas.
In the basement of an independent businesses lies a treasure trove of festive delights.
Since Kate Haigh started her business as a mobile therapist in 2007, it has steadily grown into what is now a multi-department shop, wellbeing centre and candlemaking enterprise. Becalmed, situated in Leek’s Sheepmarket, sells a wide range of goods including skincare, jewellery, clothing, gifts and interiors.
But downstairs, customers can find the Christmas Cave, which is filled with sparkly magic whatever the season. Kate, aged 43, said: “Every year after Christmas we have to rearrange the shop and put everything away. I rented part of the basement out to a wedding planner. When she left, I thought the space would be really good for the Christmas stock. When you go on holiday you see Christmas shops in seaside towns and I thought, ‘Why not in Leek?’
“I thought after Christmas people wouldn’t buy anything, but they do. Recently a lady bought a 2ft Santa. It’s something unique for the area and everyone can feel the joy of sparkly things all year round.”
Kate, who is mum to Joe, aged 11, and 10-year-old Sam, started her retail career with a stall selling natural beauty products on Leek’s Trestle Market. She then had shops in Getliffes Yard and Stanley Street before opening on Sheepmarket.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has been a tough time for businesses, it also gave Kate the chance to develop her store. She said: “I’ve used the lockdowns really well. I built a website and knocked into the cellar to start my candle business. They are called Be Candles and I make all of them by hand using pure essential oils. Then I knocked out at the back and moved the wellbeing centre upstairs to extend the retail space. Upstairs we have a hair and beauty salon, therapies and and flotation rooms.”
Kate also sells a range of pretty products for gardeners and recently launched yet another new venture
at the shop - The Secret Garden - alongside her friend Su Goodwin, who runs Grange Cottage Plants. She said: “Su and I have been friends since the age of four. Outside at the back of the shop was a bit of a dumping ground. I had the idea of having a garden centre out there so the area has been transformed into The Secret Garden.”
Kate credits Leek for helping her business thrive over the years. “I
work really hard and I’ve had a bit of luck along the way. Leek is a very special place and the Totally Locally initiative has been fantastic. The effect of covid has been really interesting. A lot of towns died a death, but in Leek people were really supportive.
“We would deliver and as soon as we were able to reopen, customers came back, supporting us as much as they could. I think people are thinking much more about where