10 Years: The Highs and Lows of Owning and Running a Small Independent Store
Who would have imagined when we re-opened the door to our fresh look ‘Lifestyle’ Store back in November 2015 that we would be amid the most extreme flooding in the North of England ever recorded. Storm Desmond was our first major test but we came through it relatively unscathed.
When JAC and I bought Abrahams, we decided we would build on the store’s excellent reputation for selling well-designed high-quality products which were more often to be found in high-end city stores rather than a small Market Town in Cumbria. Our main premise was to search for unique or niche brands that were offering something special and different from the run of the mill. We always knew that was how we would stand out from other clothing retailers and gift shops. This continues although today it is our daughter Francesca and I who share the buying responsibilities. Like me, Fran trained as a designer, has a strong eye for colour, a deep sense of style and is an absolute whizz with social media! Having her working alongside me has encouraged me to take more risks as well as giving her greater confidence – so a win-win all round!
Our second great test was surviving the COVID pandemic in 2020. Again, no one could have imagined that the country would effectively be shut down and like many small businesses, we were unable to trade for what seemed an eternity. However, during this seven-month period we set up our online shop and slowly started building a customer base that way. Thankfully, JAC’s technical knowledge helped him to build the website, saving us a great deal of money that we did not have!
Over the course of the last 10 years, we have met and befriended so many wonderful people both locals and those from further away. Customers who have discovered and love our store come from as far as South America, the Middle East, the USA and Australia which makes us immensely proud. All our friends say that they particularly love the warm welcome when they walk through our door. The gorgeous scent, great music playlists and the exemplary customer service we offer are always mentioned by those who appreciate these things.
In January 2022, we endured one of the most traumatic experiences a family can when Georgina our youngest daughter had a serious car accident. I will never forget the arrival of a Police Family Liaison Officer pulling up outside our shop and asking customers to leave and me to sit down… The shock and fear that the family went through whilst Georgie was in the coma that lasted a month was alleviated by the incredible support and kindness shown to us all by our wonderful staff and friends as well as the local community. We do not think we would have survived as a business during that horrendous time without the love and understanding of all those mentioned. Thankfully, we have come through that nightmare as Georgina continues her long road to recovery.
Now we have reached our 10-year milestone, we have asked ourselves if we would have embarked on this journey if we had known what was ahead. We all agree that we would because we knew it would not be easy and after all, we all like a challenge!
Most of all, we continue to enjoy sharing our original vision of creating a beautiful shop and hopefully, creating an unforgettable shopping experience in a relaxed and feel-good environment.
Thank you for all your support over the last 10 years, it means the world to us!
With love Josie, JAC & the Abrahams team XX