Children’s gift and toy shop expands at marina

Youngsters are being encouraged to shop for themselves at an expanding children’s gift and toy shop at Mercia Marina.

Solicitor turned businesswoman Joanne Barker has expanded and rebranded the business she launched 16 years ago.

And the 52-year-old mum of two has placed the focus firmly on her youngest customers at her new unit at the marina’s Boardwalk retail and leisure development, near Willington.

Joanne’s new store will be three times the size of the premises she took on at the marina 18 months ago, which has enabled her to provide mini wooden shopping trolleys for her younger customers and a lowered sales counter where they can purchase their own goods.

The business has also changed its name from ‘The Fabric Bug’ to ‘Hettie & Sid’, named after Hettie Hedgehog and Sid Squirrel, two characters that feature on Joanne’s website.

Joanne said: “Expanding our premises at Mercia Marina allows us to create a truly engaging and immersive space where kids will want to come and shop.

“It is so exciting to be able to develop our bespoke service and the range of products we can offer.

“Our personalised gifts and traditional children’s toys have always been extremely popular, but now, with so much space in our new shop at Mercia Marina, we can stock items such as ride on wooden toys and have the room to create a really special shopping experience not just for adults but for children too.

“Mercia Marina is just a beautiful setting and there is such a good mix of retail here.

“My husband has an office here so I’d already seen just how busy it can be, which is why we opened a shop here 18 months ago.

“Our own personal expansion is in line with the marina’s forward thinking, customer first attitude. I’m very excited about the marina’s steps for expansion and development.”

Robert Neff, general manager at Mercia Marina, said: “It’s so great see Joanne’s business expanding. She is a wonderful asset to the marina’s shopping experience.

“As Derbyshire’s largest waterside marina attraction, we provide the whole package when it comes to a destination venue with a range of shops, restaurants, bar, beauty salon – and even a fine art gallery.

“All this alongside our boating and mooring heritage, wildlife area and holiday lodges. Plus, we have further plans ahead. We wish Joanne the very best for the future of her business.”