A new gift shop has opened in a popular spot in Leek town centre – with a pair of familiar faces behind the till.
Janson Southward and Kimberley Robinson, who have traded on the town’s markets for four years, have taken up a unit in Getliffes Yard.
Gifts by Janson and Kimberley opened on Sunday, selling a range of gifts and home décor items all made by the couple at their home in Leek.
They have launched the shop ahead of the closing of the indoor market halls in Leek on 30 March to allow for refurbishment work to take place.
As recently reported by Daily Focus, the historic markets will undergo a £3.4 million investment which will include the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps and work to improve the shopping environment.
Janson said: “We are both pinching ourselves right now – we have always wanted to have our own shop.
“We have both got a passion for crafts, for making and creating things and we put a lot of passion into what we sell. We’re excited to open our doors, and pleased to have done it early, as we weren’t originally planning to open until the end of the month.”
Janson started crafting when he came out of the army but he has also run his own property maintenance company. Kimberley previously worked in care and as a cleaner before the pair, who are engaged, started the business.
They first set up in the Trestle Market before moving into the Butter Market around a year ago. They also have a popular stall at Totally Locally Leek’s Sunday Supplement market, which takes place once a month.
Their most popular product is a decoupaged glass vase, but others available in their shop include hanging slate plaques, memorial plaques, mugs and cushions adorned with various animals and picturesque scenes.
Janson added: “I have a military background and having served in the army for nine years, I found crafts were a comfort for me. Kimberley loves crafting too so it made sense for us to do what we love together.
“Our products have evolved and improved over the past four years with me working on things like the slates and Kim doing the sublimation printing.”
The pair will continue trading at the Butter Market until it closes and will still be having their regular Sunday Supplement stall.
