Louth crafts another shopping success

A Louth retail business is celebrating a successful 12 months since opening in Mercer Row last year.

H&J Arts & Crafts opened its doors on October 16 2010 selling paintings and card making and arts materials.

Proprietor Helen Grant says that sales have been healthy to the extent that she has doubled her stock in six months.

"At a time when many independent craft shops across the country are closing down, I am so happy with my first year's trading and I want to thank all those customers from Louth and beyond who have supported me."

She says the secret of staying in business is to offer something different and keep pace with market trends.

"For example", she says, "I have studied Perganano, which is working with parchment in the making of things like cards and picture frames. Already I've built up an established clientele not only from Louth but as far afield as Grimsby, Cleethorpes, the coastal resorts and Boston."

Helen says she opened for the recent Victorian Family Fayre and had a great day. "I sold three pictures, one of which was the most expensive in the shop - a painting of Walesby Church by George Odlin. George is well-known in Louth - he conducts the arts classes held at the Millers Daughter pub in Northgate. The painting fetched £325 and went to a London buyer. I was thrilled."

Helen was born in Louth's Crowtree Hospital and went to school first at Scamblesby near her home in Goulceby and then to Cordeaux.

Her shop will be open for the special Christmas late shopping on the nights of December 9 and 16.