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04
Jul
Owner of new giftware shop in Harrogate hopes to replicate York success
A new shop on West Park will add “joy, colour and friendship” to Harrogate, according to its owner.
The new branch of Upside Down Design will open next month, and Carole Whitby is hoping it will be as successful as her shop in York is.
The West Park shop, which occupies the unit vacated by Elite Bridal, is currently being refitted, and its windows are covered by huge painted murals to screen the work.
The business sells gifts, candles, dinnerware, glassware, children’s toys, stationery, books and even hats and pyjamas. Ms Whitby describes it as a more accessibly priced version of Oliver Bonas or Anthropologie.
The unit on West Park.
She said:
We’re hoping to bring a lot of joy and colour to Harrogate – that's our aim wherever we go. And friendship too – we want to become a part of the community. A colourful part of the community!
Ms Whitby, who has a background in “big retail”, was formerly trading director at Homebase. After having children, she launched her business in 2012 and opened her shop on Bootham in York in 2017.
She said the new Harrogate shop would ultimately employ six to eight people, but not all full-time. Two vacancies – for an assistant manager and a sales assistant – have already been filled, but the others are still open to applicants.
Upside Down Design will launch in Harrogate on Thursday, August 13, and will start trading the following day.
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