David and Sue Wilkes explain why they have set up their business, Christmas and Interiors, in Evesham High Street

HAVING decided to sell our former business, Stratford Antiques and Interiors earlier this year, Sue, my wife, and I, retained some stock, following a fairly quick sale.

Many items we took to auction, but we always loved Christmas in the centre and decided that we would like to be able to share our Christmas emporium once again with many of our regular customers, and, hopefully, some new ones.

As our own home has been in Evesham for many years we hoped to be able to make this a local concern and were absolutely delighted to find an opportunity in the High Street. In fact, we found the perfect Christmas shop, a double-fronted traditional Victorian window, formerly the Trainer Shop.

The warmth of the customers seems to compensate for the cold air which can drift in as we like a welcoming open door so that passers-by feel that they can pop in and view the lovely Christmas items, if not to buy, then simply to browse.

We like to feel we have something for everyone, from some quite beautiful quality, stylish decorations to free-standing Santas, trees and wreaths.

There are items suitable for decorating commercial premises and little shelf-sitting figures for cosy cottages.

We genuinely wanted to enjoy this after running an extensive outlet for many years and we are, therefore, selling all Christmas stock at trade price: all stock is half the price marked on the tickets.

We have been so pleased with the new friends we have made amongst the customer; one lady even manned the shop for us on a particularly busy day when Sue needed to pop out!

The children’s faces are a picture as they step into their own little world of Santa and they keep us smiling and often laughing.

We have also some items of a more general interior nature, having sold a number of chairs, lamps, cushions and table linen. We have some lovely small antique items of lovely quality which will grace any home and all at unbeatable prices: after Christmas these will become the focus of our lovely little shop.

Do come and see us, even if just so that we can wish Evesham folk a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year.

Christmas and Interiors, 59 High Street, Evesham