A haberdashery trader says relocating her grandmother’s business to The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge has been an “absolutely brilliant” move.

Deborah Fox now runs the haberdashery, fabric and crafts business founded by her grandmother Ann Hayden more than 40 years ago.

She moved Ann’s Trimmings out of the market hall at Trowbridge’s Castle Place shopping centre to The Shires following a steep drop in footfall.

She has taken on the unit recently vacated by the Trowbridge Future charity, which has moved to a new unit on the other side of the centre.

Wiltshire Times: Lack of footfall forced Deborah Fox to move her haberdashery business from Castle Place market hall to The Shires shopping complex. Image: Trevor Porter 76923-2Lack of footfall forced Deborah Fox to move her haberdashery business from Castle Place market hall to The Shires shopping complex. Image: Trevor Porter 76923-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Deborah said: “The move has been absolutely brilliant. It could not have gone better.

“I have been quite humbled and overwhelmed by the number of customers who have come in to wish us well and to admire our new home.

“I wish we had a little bit more space as we are a little bit cramped but it is so much easier to see what we have to offer.

“It is light and bright and much cleaner. I am really pleased that I made the decision to move.”

Ms Fox decided to make the move from the Castle Place market hall following a dramatic decline in footfall after larger retailers pulled out.

“The loss of Wilkinsons was a big blow and then Shaws, the footfall just isn’t there any more and therefore the trade isn’t there any more.

“It was a big wrench because I have loved being in the market and of course we’ve been there a very long time.

“I spoke to The Shires and they were very positive and they’ve done a lot to help me move in and to make life as straightforward as it can be, so I have taken the plunge.”

Ann’s Trimmings opened its doors in The Shires on Saturday (March 23) and staged a razzamatazz celebration on Easter Saturday (March 30).

Deborah already employs two people part-time and is now looking at offering further employment if takings in The Shires exceed expectations.

Her grandmother launched Ann’s Trimmings for something to do after she retired and moved to Trowbridge.

When Ann grew too old to run the business on her own, her daughter Audrey Hickerton took it on. Deborah has been running it for the past 12 years.

“All our customers remember my mum, she was universally loved,” said Mrs Fox. “She grew the little business into what it is now.”