Displays aim to get businesses booming
LLANELLIBASED small businesses Angie’s Baby Cwtch and Just Into Crafts have been given a makeover as part of nationwide transformations to encourage Brits to keep shopping locally and support small businesses, as daily lives start to return to normal.
A total of 13 independent shops – stretching from Dunfermline to Llanelli – have been given extraordinary window displays by worldrenowned British conceptual designer Jo Sedley.
The captivating new window displays have all been created to showcase each shop’s unique business story.
In Llanelli, Angie’s Baby Cwtch, in Vaughan Street, run by Angela Bowen, and Just Into Crafts, in Cowell Street, run by Debbie Griffiths, have had revamped window displays.
Women’s refuge support worker Angie had always wanted to own and run a baby clothes shop. She saved money from her job and in 2017, at the age of 60, opened her dream shop.
At first working part-time between the refuge centre and her new store, she now runs the shop full-time thanks to her loyal customers.
Highlighting Angie’s love of traditional baby clothes, the new window at the store takes the beautiful products from the store and makes it a dreamland, incorporating the whimsical building blocks from the shop’s own logo.
While Debbie has been involved in all aspects of crafts throughout her life and after a brief attempt at retirement decided to open Just Into Crafts so she could provide everyone with materials at affordable prices.
Growing up she had struggled to get craft materials and didn’t want anyone else in her community to be in the same position.
As part of this, she opens her store early solely for anyone who has mental or physical ailments and needs a more peaceful or personalised shopping experience.
The windows are digitally shoppable, taking shoppers to Facebook via a unique QR code where passers-by can browse, shop and support their local stores online.
Angie said: “Facebook has helped me get my business out there, especially during the pandemic, because people share it with their friends on Facebook and then it gets customers through the door. I also like that I can speak to people directly even if they can’t make it to the shop in person and help them with their queries that way.
“Hopefully this new window will be another way to keep people coming into the shop and even just brighten their days as they pass by.”
Debbie said: “I really missed seeing my customers during the pandemic and chatting to them in store but being able to stay in touch with them through Facebook helped me to maintain that connection.
“Since we’ve opened again, I can tell that some customers are coming in just for a chat because it’s been such a difficult time and I love to feel like I’m making a difference to them.
“I hope that the local community will continue to support me this summer and beyond, and that this new window will become a talking piece for the shop.”
Steve Hatch, vice-president for Northern Europe, at Facebook, said: “The past 16 months have been tough for small firms and many had to pivot to digital shops quickly so they could reach customers locally and further afield.
“These stunning window creations celebrate strong and resilient bricks and mortar shops who have used our technology to build their community.”