New Vintage Shop Opens In Pontypool

A new business that has supplied antiques and collectables to TV shows such as Eastenders, theme parks and global fashion brands, has opened in Pontypool town centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Roofrack Ragamuffins opened its doors in June after owner Allun Davies, 49, decided to move his business from Newport back to his home town of Pontypool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Davies, an ex-paramedic, started the business in 2014 and has quickly built a national reputation as a go-to-guy for quirky vintage collectables and antiques. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Specialising in vintage suitcases and trunks, he has sourced items for the likes of the BBC, ITV, Shrek World in London and Abercrombie and Fitch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since moving the business to Pontypool Mr Davies has quickly established himself in the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “I love Pontypool and have always wanted to open a business here. I have traded in Cardiff and Newport in the past, but I am already doing better in Pontypool than I ever expected and my over the counter sales have increased significantly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People still like to see and touch physical objects for themselves before buying and they will travel for things that they really want, so it is all about understanding your customers and knowing what sells. If something doesn’t sell I drop it and look for something else. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Town centres are struggling across the country and Pontypool is no exception, but I really believe that we as traders have a responsibility to help turn this around by taking a positive, proactive approach and offering our customers products and services that they won’t find on the average high street.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Lewis Jones, executive member for regeneration, said: “We are delighted to welcome Roofrack Ragamuffins into Pontypool town centre. The shop offers something quirky and unusual, and with a number of shops and stalls in the town selling antique and vintage items, Pontypool is starting to become a destination for many collectors and enthusiasts.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​