Father and daughter team Red and Abi Jenkins run Fosseway Furniture in Shipston – an Aladdin’s Cave of interiors
THERE are goodies galore to be found inside an Aladdin’s cave of interiors in Shipston.
Run by a father and daughter team, Fosseway Furniture is housed in a huge hangar-like warehouse on the Tilemans Lane business estate.
As well as upcycled and second-hand furniture of all descriptions, there are a number of concessions run by around 30 independent dealers selling all manner of things from collectibles, paintings, retro items, objet d’art to soft furnishings.
Abi, 28, and Red Jenkins, 54, turned a hobby into a business and now, as the saying goes, never have to work again as they love what they do and the freedom it brings.
“Dad was always a skip diver,” explained Abi, who used to work in care. “He worked as a landscape gardener but collected on the side – he’d get bits and bobs and all sorts. And then we started doing auctions, it became like an obsessive hobby. We were originally based at home – but it grew and grew and eventually took on this unit.”
As the business prospered at some point Red and Abi gave up their ‘proper’ jobs and haven’t looked back.
While a lot of people wouldn’t want to work with a parent, Abi says family relationships tend to be smooth running.
“We have a barney about once every six months – but once we get it off our chests it’s OK for another six months,” laughed Abi.
“Our roles are always changing, but Dad is often in the workshop shot-blasting old furniture, which makes the wood lovely and smooth. He’ll also do the stripping and painting. And he’ll be out and about collecting and delivering.
“I manage the shop, do the buying and look after our social media and website.”
Abi is in the middle of two brothers – Thomas works next door converting camper vans, while William does something in AI. The family grew up in Stow-on-the-Wold, and Abi’s mum is now based in Spain.
One of the things that has helped business boom is the affordability of the products – with highly desirable early-20th century solid wood tables at very reasonable prices, with lots below £100.
And items often sell quickly.
“There’s not much rhyme or reason what sells well at any given time. Recently we couldn’t stock enough chest of drawers – selling 40 in a week; at the moment it’s wardrobes.
“We’re very much about reusing and repurposing furniture – pre-loved ready to be loved again.”
Forget IKEA and other branded stores, Fosseway Furniture can’t be beaten for convenience.
“You can park here and literally take items away,” said Abi. “We will also deliver.”
With proposals for the new Sainsbury’s moving forward, and which will be literally next door to Fosseway Furniture, Abi is optimistic about the future health of the business.
“Tilemans Lane is thriving – there’s so many great businesses here – it’s the place to be. Sainsbury’s is the icing on the cake. And hopefully it will drive visitors to this part of Shipston and that can only be a good thing for the town.”
