Glen’s Collectables to open at Stonham Barns Park near Stowmarket next week

A former carpenter has packed it all in to open a collectables shop at a Suffolk park.

Glen Wade, 55, of Great Blakenham, first launched Glen’s Collectables about two years ago as a way of selling stock at conventions and craft fairs up and down the country.

Having spent the past 40 years working as a carpenter, Glen fancied a switch to something less physical.

He described himself as a mix of excited and terrified to open a new unit at Stonham Barns on June 14.

On offer will be all things sci-fi, superhero, anime or cartoon, including figurines, key chains, night lamps, plushies, themed mystery boxes and more.

Glen said: “This is something I’ve always wanted to do for a living, but it felt like I wasn’t capable of doing until recently. Over the course of time, we found out figurines sold well.

“It’s a massive leap from being a carpenter to running a shop and while I’ll miss the camaraderie and banter on site, but I’m a people person and I love interacting with customers and at the conventions, they’re a great bunch of people, everyone has a good laugh.

“We want to offer things that are affordable, competitive. I’ve always loved sci-fi and the like and this felt like a natural progression.”

Glen set up a website for his business about a year ago.

He said it had been tough and keeping up with the times was the aim of the game.

He had been considering opening a physical shop for a few months but the right place ‘never came up’, he said.

That was until he was offered a unit at Stonham Barns.

“We went up there and fell in love with the unit,” Glen said.

“I’ve invested everything I have into the business and we begin moving our stock over on Monday.

“I’m terrified and excited but it’s something I want to try. Stonham Barns is fantastic, the people are great and they help you out with social media and advertising.

“Everything about it feels right and I can’t wait to get started.”