COMPANY PROFILE 17 HEATHER FASHIONS T: +44 (0)1768 865 023 www.heather-fashions.com wildcards each year just to see how they go down! What sets you apart from your competitors? We believe in providing stylish yet practical products, made from quality British fabrics at affordable prices. We also try to run a stock supported service, which can be of great help to retailers during periods of economic uncertainty. What are some stand-out moments since the company launch? Reaching one million pounds in sales a few years back brought home to us how far we had come. Turnover is vanity, but it was a big achievement for a once very small business! How are you finding the current climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? The high street has undoubtedly been in decline, but we have tried to pursue sales in other sectors to compensate for this. There are plenty of opportunities out there; it is a matter of identifying them and having the courage to pursue the leads. How do you view the future of independent retail? Very bright – especially in the tourist and gift sector. We are hoping that the high street recovers too but this needs some serious investment from government, landlords and local councils to try to encourage start-up businesses. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? We are on Instagram and Facebook, and we’re hoping to ramp up our content strategy significantly in 2026. Having an online presence is crucial as a small business as it allows us to build a strong brand identity and helps us to connect with new customers. Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of gifts? The gift market is very broad, so try to specialise if you can. Make sure you understand your target customers and try to market effectively. Have a solid business plan that covers all costs and expenses. Take constructive advice on board. Above all, have the confidence to believe that what you are doing is right and don’t let setbacks deter you. What can we expect in the future from the company? We will look to develop products using a more varied range of fabrics from different UK suppliers – for example, we are launching a Linen and Waterproof Cotton range in 2026. We are working to establish more sales abroad to grow the Heather brand globally.
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