‘I DO FEEL HOPEFUL FOR MY SHOP AND FOR LONGTON’

TRINA Cooper is the owner of Lotus Garden Collections, which sells luxury rattan garden furniture and other garden accessories. The showroom has only been open for five weeks – but had its windows smashed on the first weekend.

The 54-year-old, of Meir, said: “We were originally online-based, but we wanted somewhere where people could come to see the items on display. We looked at Hanley and Newcastle – the rents were too high in Newcastle, but they are pretty reasonable here. “The unit had been closed and empty for nearly 20 years – it used to be the Hanley Girl clothes shop. The week I took it over, I had the windows put through. It happened on the Saturday and my insurance didn’t kick in until the Monday so it cost me £1,200. But I haven’t had any trouble since then and the security guys are very good.

“People don’t come into Longton to buy a £3,000 garden table so people tend to come to the shop specifically after seeing an item online that they want to view. People come to Longton to buy more everyday things.

“I have had quite a few conversations with the new centre manager. He really wants to bring it up to where it could be and he knows what he’s doing. I do feel hopeful for my shop and for Longton – but ask me again in two years. “I think the precinct needs a bit of new blood. We need to have more trending stuff available that is more relevant to younger or middleaged customers. I’d like to see things like street food pop-ups maybe once a month, or an ice cream parlour or a fancy cake shop.”