Gaynor Walkey Granny Goose

“I responded to the needs of friends who could not find pillows to suit their neck problems and as a result were not having a good night’s sleep. I helped them solve their difficulties by producing custommade down and feather pillows,” says Gaynor Walkey about how her familyrun feather-, down- and cotton-product business, Granny Goose, was started 20 years ago.

She now has six stores countrywide, including the Claremont Sleep Laboratory – one of two outlets that offer visitors the novelty of being able to climb into a Granny Goose-dressed bed to try out the variety of products available.

“You can experience lying on a feather bed under different weights of duvets and try different pillows – all covered in our exquisite linen – before making a purchase,” says Gaynor. And it’s not just bedding you will find in the store, but a large variety of accessories too, including aprons, linen bags, slippers and bedding for children.

Everything the stores stock is designed and manufactured locally, using raw product sourced from Canada, China and Hungary. “Our suppliers are restricted to those dealing in geese or ducks where the entire bird product is ethically farmed for consumption,” says Gaynor.

The “Bed-in-a-Box” selection is convenient and excellent quality, which has made it one of Granny Goose’s bestselling products. But the most irresistible item is probably the Feather Bed. “Tucked over your mattress, under your fitted sheet, the experience can be compared to sleeping on a cloud,” says Gaynor. Granny Goose, 1 Montclare Place, Main Road, Claremont, (021) 671-0350, grannygoose.co.za.