Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2018 (Issue 109)

Tell us a bit about Willow & Grey and how you came to open the business. Consulting with Halstead residents, it emerged that there used to be a homewares and gifting boutique on the high street. After closing, many people missed the store that they were so fond of. I have always had a flair for interior design and putting items together, and I have dreamed of owning my own business. Since the opportunity arose to merge my passion and fulfil a clear gap in my local market town, I couldn’t say no and set up shop! I have always been interested in interior design and used to buy houses when I was a single parent, live in them with my three children while I renovated and then sold them on a few years later. It was more of a love and passion that I had. People seemed to love what I did in my homes, and it appeared I was good at picking those unusual items at reasonable prices. I now do that for my shop. I’m very lucky to have a great team beside me who are also very passionate about what we sell. When we get a delivery, the girls come in to help unpack it all and get it on to our Facebook page and website. We specialise in home interiors and gifts, and we have a gorgeous range of items – from candles, photo frames, mirrors and crockery to the larger furnishings such as the dining room tables available on our website. What is your USP? Our stock is all handpicked by myself and my team, and we are very passionate about all the items that we pick and the service that we provide at Willow & Grey. We regularly consult with our customers to make sure that we select the items that best align with their tastes and requirements. If we receive requests for a popular item that has run out of stock, then we try our best to source the same or a similar item. We have even had instances of our regular customers describing a gift or furnishing that they would like to purchase, and we have scoured our supply base to find something that meets their brief. What are your current bestsellers? A variety of customers visit the store, some are looking for a gift with a personal touch and others need guidance on furnishing their new homes. In terms of gifting, our bestsellers are our room diffusers, which are available in five different scents that also come in scented candles. Larger mirrors, cabinets and living room furnishings are discussed with the individual. Are you active on social media, and how do you use it for your business? We are very active on social media through Facebook and Instagram. It is a fantastic way to engage with new and existing Gift Focus chats to owner Sevil Clark about her Essex-based shop, Willow & Grey flair for interiors 134 giftfocus