Fenwick department store group revealed recently that it is to dedicate 30% of the card displays in its stores to ‘local cards’, be that specific captions, language used, subject matter or artists/publishers from the vicinity of the store. With that in mind, PG Buzz checked in with Marion and Mark Flaherty, owners of Best Wishes, in Garstang, Lancashire to find out the strength of its local pride and how this is reflected on the products it stocks.
The tribal call: “We have noticed an increase in customers from surrounding areas who want to ‘shop local’ instead of going into the larger towns. Also we have more visitors from further afield who want the individuality of independent shops and personal customer service.”
Local action: “We stock a selection of postcards with local scenes of our market town of Garstang and the Lancaster canal printed by The National Park Card Company, as these are always a good way to get customers into the shop! In addition, local artist Geoff Rollinson supplies us with cards of his fabulous paintings of Lancashire, including the Ribble Valley and the Fylde.
From a humour point of view, Dialectable Cards always raise a smile with its Lancashire ‘twang’ dialect range covering not only birthdays but a good range of occasions too.
We are pleased to stock Vista Cards of local photographic images taken by Peter Laurence, covering many images of Lancashire, both scenic and buildings, such as the Lytham windmill and the iconic Ashton Memorial at Lancaster.
We recently received our first delivery from Star Editions’ ‘Love Your Location’ range, which includes cards, tea towels, tote bags, mugs, magnets, keyrings, and postcards. Our range is based on an exclusive image in the railway poster art style created by Dave Thompson at Star Editions from a photograph by local amateur photographer Mike Coleran. These have been well received and sales are good.”
Personal fave Lancashire flavours: “Some of the best things about Lancashire are black pudding, Lancashire cheese, Blackpool rock, its areas of outstanding natural beauty and the ‘Reet Good Welcome’ you receive from the ‘Gradely Folk’ that live here.”
Top: The new Garstang products that Best Wishes ordered from Star Editions.
