The sew’s over after 25 years as Shrewsbury trader to close shop
For the last 25 years great-grandmother Jackie Williams has travelled on a bus from Bishop’s Castle to her shop in Shrewsbury and worked a full day – six days a week.
But as she approaches 80, Mrs Williams is now winding down and is closing her shop, House of Needlework, in Wyle Cop, on September 29.
Mrs Williams first opened a shop in Clun in 1968, before moving it to Bishop’s Castle, and finally Shrewsbury in 1993.
She has seen the internet change the way shoppers purchase goods over the years as she built up a world-wide client base.
Mrs Williams said: “Each morning I leave home at 7am to get down to the bus. It’s a 12-hour day, six days a week, and I’ll be 80 in December. I
"’m a workaholic, this suits me very well. I am very disciplined, I have no problems getting up and going to work.”
House of Needlework offers a range of needlecraft materials, including embroidery, wools and silks.
With the rise of the internet the High Street has suffered, and Mrs Williams said her trade has seen good days and bad days.
She added: “As with all retail trades there are ups and downs. Nothing is perfect, I’m used to it now.
“In previous days I had staff, there have been seven people involved over the years, but other than that I’ve been more or less on my own.
“I’ve got people from abroad that shop here. I had a customer from Shetland recently, it’s people from all over the country.”
She added: “These sort of shops are few and far between.
Texture
“I’ve got a regular clientèle and they have been very loyal over the years, it really has been terrific.
“Some of the business will continue from home online, and I will continue to do embroidery workshops.
“I’ve run the classes on and off, but I will continue from Lydbury North Village Hall.
The internet has become far too prevalent, it’s up to people to work around the internet.
“The internet is very limited – customers can’t feel texture, there are things that are missing on the internet that people on the high street want.
“Luckily Shrewsbury has woken up as a town and a lot happens in and around which brings people in and they see what a lovely town it is.”
House of Needlework, in Wyle Cop, will close its doors for the last time on September 29.
For more information about the embroidery classes, contact jackie.williams@bishopscastle.co.uk
