W & M Smith welcomes customers to new craft and gift shop in Bury Road, Stowmarket

A craft and gift shop has been opened in Stowmarket by an entrepreneur who started her business from her parents’ landing more than four decades ago.

Sixty-year-old Wendy Smith, of Needham Market, is encouraging people to shop in independent stores in the run up to Christmas, as she enjoys the footfall at her new location in Bury Road.

Wendy, who has always worked for herself, set up W & M Smith in 1981, aged 16, selling packaging and paper bags, which she used to store at her family home in Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds.

Since then the business has been based at various locations, including Crowfield and Middlewood Green, before the new shop, which sells a huge range of crafts, gifts, party supplies, balloons and dried and fake flowers, was opened in September.

She said: “This is the last move and it is the first time I have been in a town, so the footfall here has been amazing.

“A lot of people have said how nice it is and a big thing for Stowmarket to have something like this.

“All the compliments have been rewarding as the move was a bit of a mammoth job.

“At the end of the day it is my little baby really.”

W & Smith, will open specially on Sunday, November 24, as the team at the store are keen to get involved with Stowmarket’s Christmas Fayre.

Wendy, who enjoys getting to know her customers and what they need, said: “Support your local people because without them you are going to be left with just the supermarkets and out of town shops.”

By the end of the month the back of the store, previously a carpet salesroom, will be opened allowing customers to buy catering supplies and floristry items.

As a reader, we know the value you place on trusted local journalism. At SuffolkNews we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from communities right across the county, and we can only do this with the support of our readers. By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission, you also unlock a whole host of benefits, including unlimited access to our ad-lite SuffolkNews website and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers. You can find out more about subscriptions here.

Use the promo code Suzanne Day to get an annual subscription for less than £25 - we really appreciate your support. Thank you