By Paul Cusimano, Joseph Clothing, Lancaster It was early March when Linda told me that they had decided to open a second retail store in Lancaster. This was on the back of a torrid twelve months for retailers. “Fortune Favours The Brave”.
Above: ‘Expressions of Lancaster’ Gifts For Every Occasion
Above: ‘Expressions of Lancaster’
‘Expressions of Lancaster’, a beautiful store. Another of Lancaster’s plethora of high quality independent businesses that make Lancaster a fantastic shopping experience.
This is the beauty of owning your own business. You make the choices of which brands to stock. There is often criteria to meet to become stockists of certain brands. To reach agreement with a supplier to have ‘Shop in Shop’ you have to be at the top of your game. Opening a second store in Lancaster gave Linda, Steph and Jeff, the three partners, the space needed.
Opened in 1999 in Marketgate Shopping Centre, it has a real presence. You cannot walk past the double fronted business without looking in their beautifully merchandised windows. Always eye catching.
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his gift, jewellery and fashion accessory business, also houses Lancaster’s longest established piercing studio on the first floor. Over the twenty years, the business has grown and more space was required to fully represent the fantastic brands stocked. This was something I understood, as in my business I’m a believer in ‘brand representation’. If you believe in a brand, then you offer your customers a good selection from their range.
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With less than two months to ready the new premises before the end of Lockdown 3.0, it was all hands to the pumps. The physical works and the planning were all being juggled. It had to be right, there was no room for error. The twelfth of April was fast approaching. The day had arrived, and I don’t know how, but ‘Expressions & Co’, sister shop to ‘Expressions of Lancaster’, was ready and open. I called in. Linda and Steph were calmness personified. Jeff was industrious. What a transformation. The shop was beautiful. I was blown away and for once rather speechless. www.lancmag.com
