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Cobbler Helps Shoppers Keep in Step
The high street may have changed, but in Bargoed the traditional cobbler is still going strong. Thirty four years ago Steve Knight set up his own business The Shoe Clinic on Cardiff Road in Bargoed town centre. Over the years he has seen many changes, but The Shoe Clinic remains a traditional cobbler’s carrying out all types of boot and shoe repairs including specialist building up for orthopaedic footwear. It also offers a key cutting service and engraves pet tags. Steve said: Things have changed a lot but I find that people still want to save money and repairing shoes is always much cheaper than buying a new pair. People are amazed at what I can do to repair shoes they thought they would have to throw away.
Return of the Traditional Sweet Shop
Chinkles is a sweet & gift shop located in The Market Place Shopping Centre in Blackwood. The shop is the second to be opened locally by owner Samantha Tomsett, the other is in Aberbargoed. Her aim is to create a unique experience for her customers including by: focusing on customer experience arranging rows of sweets in jars behind the counter displaying a mini Ferris Wheel laden with sweets in the window the Ferris Wheel stocked full of sweets is also available to hire for children’s parties. She said: Our aim is simply to make people happy! When someone chooses sweets or buys a balloon for an occasion it makes them smile. Having worked my whole life in retail I know how important it is that people enjoy coming into your shop
Family Business Powers Ahead
A family run electrical retailer in Blackwood town centre goes from strength to strength. Blackwood Appliance is located in Emily’s Indoor Market which is located above Wilko’s on High Street. The business was started in 2011 by Mark Jones and not only sells a full range of brand new cookers, fridges and washing machines but also offers a repairs service. From small beginnings Blackwood Appliance has grown and Mark now works alongside wife Mandy and son Craig. The repairs side of the business stocks a full range of electrical spares ranging from cooker elements and vacuum cleaner bags to fluorescent tubes. Mark said: Its really important that we are a family run business who offer a great service. I have been selling electrical appliances for 31 years and so have gained a wealth of product knowledge which I use to help our customers.
Work experience of a lifetime awaits two hairdressing apprentices in Cyprus
Two hairdressing apprentices from Caerphilly and Ystrad Mynach are preparing for a work experience opportunity of a lifetime. Hannah Voisey, 21, from Cracked Actors, Caerphilly and Luca Sparey, 19, from Spirit Hair Team, Ystrad Mynach, will fly out to Cyprus on April 9 where they will divide their 16-day visit between working in Cypriot salons and attending cutting, hair up and colouring workshops at The Hair and Beauty Academy in Paphos. To prepare them for the experience they have been taking Greek lessons to help them converse with their hosts. It’s the most ambitious work experience placement to date arranged by award-winning ISA Training, based in Bridgend, who are the largest independent hair and beauty training provider in Wales. A total of 15 apprentices from South Wales and Gloucestershire and two staff members are involved in the visit, which is being arranged as part of the company’s Oyster Project, which is based on the saying ‘The world is your oyster’. The project aims to enhance the learning experience of apprentices, increase their confidence and broaden their career horizons. Funding support is being provided by Erasmus+, the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport, which offers exciting opportunities for UK leaners to study, work, volunteer, teach and train abroad in Europe. ISA Training, which has arranged previous visits to Spain, Cyprus, Poland, Turkey and New York, is now seeking funding support for future trips to Spain, London and Finland. Last year, the company welcomed learners from Poland, Spain and Turkey as part of an exchange programme. This is the…
New Business Provides Turkish Delight
A new traditional Turkish barber has opened on Market Street in Caerphilly town centre. Male grooming is currently emerging as a growth area in the retail sector and Turkish barbers are proving particularly popular. Visiting a Turkish barber can include not only a haircut, but also a hot shave, beard trim, eyebrow threading as well as other male grooming services. The emphasis is on offering the customer a complete experience which is more than just a quick haircut. The business is run by brothers Hakan and Yayo Salak. Owner Hakan Salak said: We were located in Trethomas but wanted to make the move to Caerphilly town centre, we managed to find a great property overlooking the castle and look forward to bringing something new to the people of Caerphilly.
Exotic Pet Shop Opens in Blackwood
A new independent pet shop has opened in Emily’s Indoor Market which is situated above Wilko’s in Blackwood town centre. Feathers an Scales is run by Lauren Bailey who has turned her talent for hand rearing birds into a new business venture. The exotic pet shop stocks numerous birds of different breeds which are hand reared by Lauren in her home aviary, as well as snakes and other reptiles. Lauren said: I always wanted to run a pet shop as I love animals and breed reptiles and birds at home. Renting a unit in Emily’s Indoor Market has offered me a great way to establish my business in Blackwood. Emily’s has lots of small business like mine so please call in and see us. If you are interested in finding out more about how to rent a unit in Emily’s Indoor Market on Blackwood High Street please contact Sue Jenkins on 07920 054124
New Estate Agents Chooses Town Centre Location
A new estate agents urpad has opened in Hayden’s Designer Flooring which is situated on Castle Street in Caerphilly town centre. The Welsh franchise of urpad is being rolled out by Andrew Dillon and Daniel Murphy who have over 25 years of experience in the industry. The Caerphilly shop is the first in Wales and aims to provide vendors with a cost effective way of selling or renting houses by combining online sales with a high street presence. Director Andrew Dillon said: I am delighted to bring the urpad brand to my home town of Caerphilly, the franchise has already enjoyed great success in Bristol by bringing a new approach to the property market. As a business we are also keen to put something back into the local community and have sponsored a rugby kit for my old school Plas-y-Felin Primary. Plas-y-Felin Primary, “urpad” sponsored rugby kit
Familiar Name Returns to Bargoed
The Ty Marisa Café in Bargoed is reverting to its original name Rossi Café. The café was established by Joe & Irene Rossi in 1961 and is part of the long tradition of Italian cafes’ in the South Wales Valleys. When it opened Rossi Café was situated in High Street, later the café relocated to another High Street property and was renamed Ty Marisa after the couple’s daughter. Today, Marisa runs the business with her mother Irene. Marisa Rossi said: “It was the right time to revert back to calling ourselves Rossi Café as local people still know us as ‘Rossi’s’. I am delighted with our new signage which captures the heritage of the business my parents started.”
Blackwood Business Keeping People Connected
A retailer in Blackwood town centre has turned his hobby into a successful business. Warren Ashton realised his knack for fixing electronic devices could be a new business opportunity so he started ‘Fix it Up’ in the smallest shop on Blackwood High Street. Soon the business grew and relocated to a larger shop in Hall Street. ‘Fix it Up’ now not only repairs and refurbishes mobile phones and tablets, it also buys and sells them. Warren Ashton said: “I am a good example of someone who saw a gap in the market and turned their hobby into a business. When you manage to fix someone’s broken phone you help them stay connected to their world and that’s the most important thing we do” If you would like to talk to someone about opportunities to start a business in one of the County Borough’s town centres please contact Town Centre Management retail@caerphilly.gov.uk 01443 866213 / 01443 86693.