Julie turns a corner with Newport Indoor Market business start-ups
Seamstress Julie Harper has the world at her fingertips after gaining a new lease of life through her business start-ups.
The enterprising 59-year-old has turned her lockdown passion into business ventures which have become popular additions to Newport Indoor Market, and boosted her mental health at the same time.
Julie, of Telford, has now opened her latest market stall, Cotton Corner, and the stand sits adjacent to Dollies and Dungarees which launched in October.
She was able to open both thanks to start-up trial grants awarded through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme.
Julie rekindled her passion for sewing during the lockdowns when she was at a low ebb and suffering with her mental health.
The family liaison officer reached the point where she couldn’t leave the house and anxiety soon spiralled into depression.
But after reducing her full-time hours, self-taught sewer Julie decided to take up sewing again and gained a new focus.
She started fine tuning her skills around the clock, developing her own range of dungarees and clothing, and when she heard about the start-up trial grant it inspired her to set up her own business.
Julie said: “The pandemic and the lockdowns affected me really badly. I wasn’t in a good place but after reducing my hours at work I suddenly had a bit more time on my hands.
“I taught myself to sew when I was 14 but I never thought I was good enough to take it any further.
“But a good friend of mine came to see me one day and suggested that I take it up again and from that moment I’ve never looked back.
“I turned our study into what I call my ‘happy room’ and I just feel my mood lift every time I go in there and start to sew.
“I honestly don’t know what I would have done without it because it really has helped me to get through a difficult time.”
Cotton Corner received a £2,500 start-up trial grant and sells a range of affordable fabrics and colourful cotton which can be used for curtains, dress making, soft furnishings, cushions and tablecloths.
It goes hand in hand with Dollies & Dungarees, which also received a £2,500 start-up trial grant and is a stall which sells reversible dungarees and children’s clothing as well as made-to-order clothing.
Both market stalls are open on a Friday and Saturday at Newport Indoor Market from 8am to 3.30pm.
Julie is supported by partner Trevor who runs them on a Friday and then Julie works at the market every Saturday.
Julie said: “It works well because we are able to work both days between us. We’ve already had some tremendous feedback about both stalls and Cotton Corner has given people in Newport a fabric stall which has been missed in the town.
“For Dollies and Dungarees my work often starts when I get home because people place orders for clothing at the market but I love it. The demand for this type of clothing is there and the orders are coming in thick and fast.
“Trevor is a carpenter but we’re both enjoying doing something completely different. For me it has been a breath of fresh air and has completely changed my perspective on life.”
The start-up trial grants give businesses the opportunity to test their business out on the high street on a trial basis for up to 12 months, either as a pop up market stall or in an empty retail unit.
Julie added: “I’m so pleased I heard about this grant which has helped me to launch Dollies and Dungarees and Cotton Corner and I’m very grateful to Telford & Wrekin Council and the support I’ve received.
“I never expected to set up my own market stalls but thanks to this funding I’ve been able to do it and I’m over the moon.”
Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, Regeneration and the High Street, said: “The Pride in Our High Street start-up trial grant has helped Julie to open Cotton Corner and builds on her existing Dollies and Dungarees stall which opened at Newport Indoor Market last year.
“Not only have these grants helped Julie to make a fantastic impression in the Newport community, her passion for sewing and being able to launch both businesses has boosted her mental health and wellbeing which is fantastic to see.
“Our high streets are bouncing back with decreasing numbers of vacant units across the borough.
“The council’s continued investment combined with local entrepreneurs’ enterprise and hard work is making a real difference.”
You can find out more about the grants and funding which is available through the Pride in Our High Street programme here.
