This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to mother and daughter Pauline Scott and Kelly Dixon, who own and run Daisy Mays, on the ground floor of Harrogate's Victoria Shopping Centre.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We sell greetings cards and gifts. That's it, really. Well, and wrapping paper, gift bags, stamps, partyware, balloons, even Harrogate fridge magnets. We sell quite a lot, really.

We've been trading since 1981. We had a shop in the old Market Hall, before it was demolished to build the Victoria Shopping Centre. We're the only original business left trading here.

What does it take to be successful in business?

You need to listen to your customers and provide friendly service. That's key these days – people still want it.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

We're passionate about our jobs and the business we work in. And we're proud to serve Harrogate as an independent business.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

Retail is hard now, and low footfall in the shopping centre doesn't help. I know there are lots of cafés in Harrogate, but having one in the shopping centre again would help – we've really noticed the difference in trade since Café M went.

Another problem is the rising cost of stamps. A first-class stamp costs £1.70 now, more than double what it did a couple of years ago, and some people are saying they don't want to send cards by post anymore.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

Mainly the small independent businesses, such as Jespers, Butterfly Kisses (both on Oxford Street), and Toyland, the toyshop upstairs. We also like to support local businesses too, so we stock cards made by Harrogate-based companies such as Jonny Javelin and Pigment Productions.

If people support us, they're supporting those businesses too.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

That's tricky. If they don't come into our shop, they're not inspiring us, are they?!

What could be done locally to boost business?

The council could look at the parking situation. They changed the way you pay for parking in the multi-storeys – people now pay when they park, so they're running to a deadline and don't spend as much time looking around. That's really affected us, and it will have affected everybody in the town centre, I should think.

They should lower rents and rates too, and get the shopping centre buzzing again. If the shopping centre is thriving, then the whole town centre will benefit.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate?

The best thing is that we have lovely customers and lovely staff, and Harrogate's a lovely town to have a business in.

The worst thing is the rents, which have risen by about 15%, and business rates, which have gone up massively since covid rate relief ended.

What are your business plans for the future?

It depends on what happens to the shopping centre. We want to carry on for as long as we possibly can, but a lot hangs on how retail in general develops.

I've like us to carry on for another 40 years, but I shan't be around then. You'll have to have a statue of me instead!

What do you like to do in your time off?

We love being outdoors as much as possible, gardening or walking. And going on holiday!

Best places to eat and drink locally?

There are a lot – and there aren't really any bad ones in Harrogate. Mama Doreen's just around the corner is lovely, and the Tulip Café down Beulah Street.

We've very much advocates for independents rather than chains, and we're very lucky in Harrogate, because there are so many.