Quirkey Business Opens On Blaenavon High Street

A new independent shop has opened on Broad Street in Blaenavon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jane and Alys Key, a mum and daughter team from Pontypool, have brought their online venture Quirkey to the high street and it’s already proving popular with customers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Offering bespoke gifts, pre-loved and upcycled furniture, candles, cards, toys and other unique items, the shop has been named ‘Quirkey HQ’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Quirky HQ joins a number of new businesses that have recently opened in the town and the venture allows Jane and Alys to focus on their love of craft. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Commenting on the opening, Jane said: “We’re so pleased to be based here in Blaenavon, the community have made us feel so welcome. I would urge anyone who hasn’t been here in a while to come see us for a browse and a friendly welcome.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On deciding to set up in business together, Jane and Alys sought the help from the Welsh Government and Communities First funded community partnership, Torfaen Effect. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Effect offers a unique approach to business support. Utilising the principles of Enterprise Facilitation™ the organisation has representation from a range of partners such as Communities First, Business Wales and Torfaen Voluntary Alliance, and offers free and confidential help to anyone thinking about self-employment or looking to improve their business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Effect’s Enterprise Facilitator Jayne said: “Every client is different, so we take the time to understand what success means for them and work side by side rather than have a ‘expert-recipient’ approach. We encourage clients to focus on their passion and use the wisdom, connections and expertise of our resource board, a dedicated team of volunteers, who champion and help clients to resource their business. Most of our volunteers are entrepreneurs too with great skills and contacts or people who have expert knowledge of certain sectors – who better to troubleshoot and find opportunities for our clients.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alys said: “Jayne really listened and understood what we wanted to achieve. When we came up against an issue – she would set to work, helping us to find a solution. I would encourage anyone with a business idea to meet her for a chat.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone considering self-employment, or wanting to access the service to develop their business, can contact Jayne Skyrme on 07534 511575 or by emailing jayne@torfaeneffect.com. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​