This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Tim Ward, co-owner of 27 West Park Antiques in Harrogate, which he opened in 2017 with business partner Lisa Hawksworth.

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

Our business sells antique, vintage and collectable items, and we now also have a selection of new decorative items and a mezzanine with soft furnishings, lighting and mirrors, all in 8,500 square feet.

What does it take to be successful in business?

Definitely perseverance, and you've got to take time to establish a regular clientele.

Stock needs to be changed constantly to keep customers interested. Fortunately, we have about 50 different dealers, so we have new stock coming in every day.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

It's a very interesting operation, in the sense that you constantly see items you've never seen before – Georgian, Victorian, mid-century, right up to the present day.

On top of it all, we are the ultimate recyclers – we stop a lot of things from being thrown away.

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

As always, finding the money to pay the rates and rent.

We also have to maintain footfall and we're dependent on visitors. We get visitors from far and wide – Devon, Scotland and everywhere in between. 

Today, we've had vistors in the shop from Canada, and yesterday we had some from Australia, Poland, Japan and China. We have a number of visitors who say we're their main reason for coming to Harrogate.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

Weetons, just along the road from us, are very good. They have a very specific market and they aim for that market, and the quality of what they sell is second to none.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Our landlord, Chris Bentley. Apart from having a very successful business, he's been a great to us because he really looked after us during lockdown when there was no money coming in. The business shut down, but he didn't expect us to pay the rent. He's always willing to talk. I've spoken with other tenants of his on Hornbeam Park, and they say the same. He doesn't ride roughshod over anybody.

What could be done locally to boost business?

Certainly, better parking. I can remember a time when you'd drive into Harrogate along Ripon Road and there was a huge sign saying 'Harrogate offers 800 free parking spaces'. Now, people are always getting ticketed.

The parking arrangements in Harrogate spoil it for people – it's a killer. Luckily, we have free parking for customers behind the shop.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate?

The best thing is that it's a tourist hotspot, so it does attract visitors.

The worst is that although we're in the centre of town, we don't do a big percentage of business with local people. Every week, we get local people coming in who say they didn't know we were here.

What are your business plans for the future?

Really, we just want to continue as we are. We think we've got the shop in the best state we can – it's as interesting as possible, and as varied as possible, so we just want to keep that going.

We also have disabled customers who really appreciate the wide aisles, so they can get about in their wheelchairs. Things like that are important to us.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I'm in the shop seen days a week, but if I did have any time off, I'd like to have a holiday!

Best places to eat and drink locally? 

The Drum and Monkey is consistently high quality, and I also like Sasso, which is authentic Italian, the Giggling Squid, which had a great variety of dishes on the menu, and The Tannin Level, which is a traditional wine bar. You don't see many of those about these days.

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.