Fundraiser launched to secure crafting shop future
"We don't want to give up, we want to keep making this work," say the owners.
A fundraising campaign has been initiated to safeguard the future of a crafting establishment in Cheltenham, "The Kiwi Fruit is Cute," which is currently navigating a "difficult period."
Three close friends are striving to preserve their independent crafting store amidst escalating operational expenses. The Kiwi Fruit is Cute, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, serves as a venue for charitable events and offers complimentary community drop-in sessions.
Earlier this year, the shop relocated to Lower High Street following the forced closure of its previous premises at Cavendish House. This new location has resulted in a "doubling" of overheads, prompting the launch of a crowdfunding effort to help offset these increased costs.
Siobhan Westmacott, one of the shop's founders, conveyed to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, "We are really in the position of trying really hard to make sure things can keep going month on month."
Siobhan, along with fellow owners Sam and Zarina, has expressed their determination not to "give up."
The shop is renowned for its "Make & Mingle" sessions, which attract participants from various locations who bring their own projects to knit, sew, or craft collectively, rather than undertaking these tasks in solitude at home. Additionally, charitable organizations, such as Oscar's Community Corner, utilize the shop's space for their own crafting endeavors.
Westmacott further elaborated, "We are working other jobs and don't take a wage from the business at all, we put everything back in. We are personally pushing our own finances into it to try and keep things going." She added, "As much as the business is growing... it is a real struggle at the moment. We are in a difficult period." Regarding the fundraiser, she stated, "This is so we keep open and keep things inclusive and affordable."
During the "Make & Mingle" sessions, a diverse array of crafts are undertaken.
The Kiwi Fruit is Cute, named after an old email address of Westmacott's, was co-founded by Samantha Potter and Zarina Ismail. Potter remarked, "We've been best friends for well over five years. We don't want to give up, we want to keep making this work."
The shop owners indicate that the fundraiser will facilitate a crucial restock order, replenish shelves, and provide the shop with some financial leeway as sales continue to grow. The Kiwi Fruit is Cute aims to raise £5,000 to sustain its operations.
Their crowdfunder states, "It is for the practical stuff that keeps the doors open."
The Kiwi Fruit is Cute also has a charity application pending, though a decision is anticipated to take several months.