As businesses everywhere close or shed jobs, a Ledbury specialist shop is bucking the trend and expanding into much bigger premises.
Maddie Horton, who has run the Stick and Stitch shop in The Homend Mews for the last five years, has decided to expand her already successful business, and has moved to much bigger premises five doors away, at the top end of the Mews.
Stick and Stitch caters for a wide variety of needs, including bespoke dressmaking, pattern-cutting, haberdashery, craft items, fascinators and sewing and embroidery supplies, and it also caters for weddings and special events, including designing and decorating wedding cakes.
Maddie, who is trained in textiles and fashion, said: “I needed more space to work, because I do a lot of commissions and, because of the credit crunch, I’m finding people are turning to doing lots more things for themselves, which has actually been good for business.”
Maddie works in the business full-time, aided by two part-timers and she says she might take on more help if the business success continues.
She is finding there is plenty to keep them busy.
“I have loyal customers all over the country, and even abroad in places such as America and France.”
Ledbury town councillor Phill Bettington expressed delight at the news.
“It will have a very welcome effect on the town’s business,” he said.
“It is so nice to see a business expanding in the present gloomy economic climate. I hope she will do really well.”