Why!
- It was
1983 and starting a business was the last thing on my mind.
I'd re-married the year before and my husband was working
in a jewellers shop on Bradshawgate in Leigh that was being
'bought out'.
- He knew
that trade well and as his services were 'no longer required'
he decided to open a jewellers himself.
- On a little
side street just off Bradshawgate was a little 'baby linen'
shop that had hit upon hard times and the owners wanted out
and didn't want a premium for the business or the lease which
was just as well as we didn't have any money! "Just buy the
stock" they said, "OK" we said and toddled off to beg funds
from the bank. Amazingly enough, they lent us the dosh.
- We were
now the proud owners of a load of dusty out of date stock
which I set about selling off cheap while we waited for the
change of lease to come through to allow him to change the
shop to a jewellers. Don't forget this was 1983 and business's
everywhere were booming. The reply came back from the Landlords.
Not only could we not have a change of use..........we wouldn't
even have a lease in 12 months! "Oh Dear me" we said. I can't
tell you what we really said.
- So he
set about finding other premises. I set about selling the
tat for a pittance but when the shop was almost empty I knew
I would have to try and find more stock to sell to help to
pay the rent, I did and found out that I loved the trade and
people liked what I stocked. In fact they liked it so much
they actually came in and bought it.
- Another
premises was found on the other side of Bradshawgate. Much
too big! He would never be able to afford to fill it with
jewellery. My 12 months were almost up so "Let's split it
into 2 units" he said, "OK" I said. So we did!
- New
Premises, New Stock, New Name
- I wondered,
I mused, I thought. Nothing seemed right.
- Making
plans one morning he said "It'll be nice for you to have a
little shop of your own instead of working for me."
Arghhh! I thought! No I can't tell you what really came into
my mind but it did include words like 'condescending' and
'pig'. Not realising what I was thinking he continued "Yes!
a little shop of your own to keep you out of mischief"
- I'll show
him! I'll spend every day in 'Mischief' so I did.
- :-)
- In 1987
I had run out of space and moved to 18 Market Street so I'm
still in Mischief(kids) every day.
- Lynn
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Well! We were at 18 Market
St, Leigh, Lancs, but due to lack of space we have now expanded
again and are now at 20 Market St, Leigh, Lancs which is much
bigger :)
PS.... The business is
still going strong after more than 20 years....
can't say the the same for the husband ;)
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I'm really sorry about this and to everyone who is starting
up their own childrenswear shop I wish you lots of luck but
we cannot give you information on suppliers etc
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