Trading on bygone era brings back golden days for Lake District shop (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Trading on bygone era brings back golden days for Lake District shop

1:08pm Wednesday 7th October 2009 in

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A LAKE District retailer is bucking the recession by tapping into a growing trend for a golden bygone era.

Debbie Henderson, who opened The Attic gift and lifestyle shop in Grasmere last year, has been so successful she is branching out.

She is opening a second store in Ambleside and has launched a website, the-attic.co.uk.

“We are a gift shop but we don’t sell items like Grasmere tea coasters,” said Ms Henderson, who has lived in Windermere for 27 years.

“I have a strong nostalgic theme in the store. We stock a lot of items that have a 1930s feel to them.”

Ms Henderson, who previously worked as a buyer, has contacts across Europe and stocks items like unusual scrubbing brushes from Denmark as well as vintage furniture and kitchenware.

For Ms Henderson, part of the success of the firm is due to people enjoying reminiscing and taking comfort in looking back to the past during difficult times – such as the current recession.

“Nostalgia makes people feel good in troubled times,” she said. “The feeling that I get is that the shop gets people talking and feeling good and that helps with purchasing.”

“Even if they don’t buy anything they have had a good time,” she added. “It gives people a proper shopping experience.”