This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Tim Ledbetter, owner of Sypeland Outdoors, which has shops in Pateley Bridge and Masham.

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

We sell clothing and outdoor equipment for walking and mountaineering, and we also have a countrywear department.

What does it take to be successful in business?

I'll let you know when I'm successful! Actually, I suppose we must be pretty successful, because we've been here for the best part of 20 years, so we must be doing something right.

One reason for that is that we only deal with good brands. For example, our countrywear brands are mainly sourced from the UK, which makes us quite niche. We've always tried to sell products made in the UK, where possible.

On the outdoor side, not much is made in the UK, but we concentrate on the top brands. It's all good-quality, high-end stuff.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

I have a passion for what I do, because I enjoy walking and mountaineering. The equipment and clothing we sell is stuff I like, so I find it interesting.

I could sell loads of things for £2.50, but I wouldn't enjoy selling them, and customers wouldn't enjoy buying them.

I run the business with my wife, Nancy, who usually works in our Masham shop. She tends to choose all the women's clothing and leaves the tents, rucksacks, knives and axes to me. Everything we sell we've chosen ourselves.

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

Prices increases on basically everything, but especially on UK-made items, because most suppliers have put their prices up in response to the increases in National Insurance and the minimum wage.

Rent, rates, electricity – everything's going up, nothing's coming down.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

We're very lucky in Pateley Bridge to have a nice mix of independent shops. In fact, we get a lot of people coming in from down south who are blown away by the variety of shops here. They often say they used to have that where they live, but don't any more. It's good that we've been able to hold on to ours.

All the people who run those small, independent businesses have a passion for what they do – they're heavily invested in their businesses, and it shows. They're the local firms I admire.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Keith Tordoff MBE. About 10 years ago, Pateley Bridge High Street was suffering. A lot of shops had closed, the banks had gone, and there wasn't even a cashpoint. It was so bad that I was going to shut our shop too. That's why we opened the one in Masham.

But Keith came and convinced me to stay. He said 'We can turn this around', and we did. I can honestly say if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't still be here – and I'm not the only one. Sometimes it just takes one person.

What could be done locally to boost business?

Any initiative that helps bring people here. Welcome to Yorkshire had its problems, but it certainly pulled people in with the Tour de France.

We should grab any opportunity to get the area on TV. Whenever a place is featured on television, it puts that place in people's minds.

Visitors to Pateley Bridge often say they're going to Grassington next, because they want to see where All Creatures Great and Small was filmed.

In 2017, when I was on the council, we got Clare Balding to do the Nidderdale Way for Radio 4's Ramblings, and visitors still talk about it. We even had some gents coming from Malta to do it, just because they'd heard about it on the BBC.

That kind of publicity is one of the best, most cost-effective ways of boosting business in the town. It does make a difference, and it needn't necessarily cost the council much money.

Best and worst things about running a business in Pateley Bridge?

The best thing is simply that Pateley Bridge is a lovely place to work, and to be.

As for the worst, I try not to do negatives if I can, and actually, I can't see many anyway. What I do doesn't feel like work, because I enjoy it.

What are your business plans for the future?

Just carrying on with the two shops. I enjoy what I do, and so does Nancy. We don't have any plans for any more shops.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like being outside and walking up on the hills. There are lots of nice walks out of Pateley Bridge, but my favourite is Dale Edge, above Middlesmoor and Lofthouse, right at the top of the dale. It's beautiful when it's sunny and exhilarating when it's windswept, so it's great in any weather. There's no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothing!

Best places to eat and drink locally?

The Sportsman's Arms at Wath is a lovely place to be. It's a nice walk from Pateley Bridge. I often send visitors up there, and they always come back happy.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.