Children’s clothing shop adds new life to high street
With the addition of another new retailer to its portfolio of town centre shops, Campbeltown appears to be bucking the national trend of declining high streets.
Families are now able to purchase affordable children’s and babies’ clothing thanks to Liz McCrindle, owner of Small Things Boutique, which opened at 31 Longrow on Friday April 7.
The shop caters for boys and girls aged from birth up to 12 years old, with all clothing sourced within the UK.
It also offers seasonal items like swimwear and a range of accessories, including sunglasses and hair bands.
Despite only opening a few weeks ago, Liz told the Courier this week that business was booming. “It’s still early days but it has been really good so far,” she said. “It was a risk opening on Easter Friday because some people were away on holiday but we also had lots of visitors to the area.
“Everyone who has visited the shop has been really positive about the prices and the products and told us how much a children’s clothing shop was needed.”
The back section of the shop has items for babies and youngsters aged up to three, while the main section of the shop is for older children.
As well as everyday items like leggings and T-shirts, the shop also stocks some formal wear for parties and events and Liz is open to adapting what she offers based on what sells, what customers request and what she is able to source.
“One of my key aims is keeping it affordable because kids can ruin clothes easily and grow out of things quickly,” she said.
“One of my suppliers does ex-chainstore clothing – some we are currently stocking are Mothercare and Next – so you know you’re going to get good quality items but with a reduced price.”
Liz, who lives near Muasdale with her husband Richard and the couple’s daughter Mia, three, is a first-time shopkeeper.
“I’ve always worked in hospitality, always front of house and with people, but not in a retail environment,” she said. “I’ve been doing book-keeping for the last five years and that work is gradually coming to an end. I was wondering what I could do with a little one to think about so I thought why not open my own shop!
“I know from experience that I’ve always struggled to get clothes for Mia, and when taking her to playgroups and things, many parents say the same thing.”
She added: “Thank you to all the people who have visited me so far and I look forward to meeting new customers.
“Every couple of weeks there will be new stock in and I’ll keep my Facebook page – Small Things Boutique – updated with new items so keep an eye out for posts!”
The shop at 31 Longrow has been vacant for some time and was recently used as a tattoo parlour but is probably best known as a butcher shop.
In addition to Liz’s new shop opening, a number of shopfront improvements have been carried out in Campbeltown, with more due over the next few months.
Between 2019 and 2023, the Campbeltown Shopfront Improvement Scheme awarded more than 50 grants to local businesses to support repairs and improvements to their shopfronts, helping eight new businesses to open and bringing 10 vacant units back into use.
The scheme is delivered in five phases with grant funding from the Town Centre Fund, Argyll and Bute Council and the Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Grant.