New store is a first as independent business sits among the chains
LIKE many retail parks across the country, Parc Trostre has suffered massively due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the past two years the retail park in Llanelli has lost six big names, including major retailers such as Outfit, H&M, Debenhams and Next.
Although Parc Trostre remains busy with shoppers, hope was running out that any new businesses would ever arrive.
But it was announced yesterday that a new store will finally be coming to the retail park.
An independent gift shop, owned by husband and wife Gemma and Andrew Cloke and called 925 Treats, will be opening at the retail park this Easter.
The store sells a wide range of jewellery, handbags and accessories, and offers items from brands such as Nomination, Coeur De Lion, Hot Diamonds and Quso.
It also offers a major stock list of Yankee Candle and Bomb Cosmetics products, along with Welsh gifts.
925 Treats already has two stores, one in Carmarthen and another in Ammanford.
Owner Gemma said opening the store at Trostre was such an amazing opportunity for their independent business.
She said: “We are really, really excited. It’s something that we have been working on for the last seven months.
“We’ve got a shop in Ammanford and Carmarthen already and we had amazing support over Christmas. Our Christmas trade was really encouraging, which helped us make the decision to go for Trostre and finalise it. “From an independent point of view, we are really excited because there’s never been an independent store at the retail park before, so it’s really exciting.”
The store aims to bring 10 new jobs to the area and Gemma and Andrew want to employ local people.
The new store will replace the unit that used to house clothing store Animal.
Despite the effects of the pandemic on the retail industry, Gemma and Andrew haven’t let it get in the way of their success. Gemma added: “Retailers were all affected by the pandemic and we did have to change direction a little bit, but we are really proud of this step.
“It’s all been down to the massive support we’ve had in Ammanford and Carmarthen, and it’s a testament to our team because for us to get to this point it’s been a massive team effort.”
We’ve got a shop in Ammanford and Carmarthen already and we had amazing support over Christmas. Our Christmas trade was really encouraging, which helped us make the decision to go for Trostre and finalise it Gemma Cloke, owner of 925 Treats