‘Part of the fabric of Welshpool life’ was the headline of a five page feature in the town’s County Times newspaper to mark the 20th anniversary of Celtic Company, the award winning greeting card and gift shop owned by Ros Jones.
Ros told PG Buzz she was “blown away by the level of support” the article in the press attracted from suppliers and well-wishers.
Ros juggles running the shop, being a mum to her four children as well as developing the welsh text greeting card company Alf a Bett she started recently with her best friend Viv Thomas.
Quoted in the article, Ros said: “It is such a good feeling to be celebrating 20 years of trading on Welshpool High Street – we have had loads more ups than downs and I will always be grateful to our loyal, local customers who have contributed so much to our success.”
Thinking back to her life when Celtic Company first opened its doors back in 1997. “We had just had a new addition to our family – it’s hard to think of where the years have gone – he is now a strapping 20-year-old and is a very popular staff member!” she said making reference to her son Aled.
The newspaper article highlights how Celtic Company is something of a landmark in the town’s high street. Having traded in two sites for the last few years, next year, when the lease runs out on the original shop unit, the company is to consolidate into its larger newer store that opened three years ago, a few doors away.
“After all this time, we really feel part of the fabric of Welshpool life and try and contribute as much as we can to local causes and events,” explains Ros. “We have a good working relationship with our fellow businesses, all of us work to make Welshpool a destination for visitors as well as a town containing all that our local customers need and want.”
She also pays tribute to the loyalty of her staff and suppliers in the extended feature.
“There are some suppliers who we have traded with for our whole 20 years,” says Ros, who also gives a special mention to Abacus Cards who will be working closely with the team as all the card fixtures are installed into the new location at the start of next year.
Ros and her team have a busy year ahead as the company consolidates into one store, the launch of a brand new website as well as developing the Alf a Bett card range, following Ros and Viv’s attendance of The Ladder Club seminar in September.
Here, Ros shares her views on The Ladder Club: