The economic downturn has not stopped a Chester business from expanding into the city centre.
French-designed children’s boutique Chateau de Sable has opened at 22 Watergate Street after almost two years trading on Handbridge.
Owner Janice Atlay owns the license for the brand in the UK and launched her first website in March last year.
The shop was awarded a Small Business Sunday award by entrepreneur Theo Paphitis this July.
She said: “Customers regularly travel from south Manchester, Shropshire and North Wales to visit the boutique.
“The styling of the brand has been enthusiastically received as it keeps children looking like children.”
The boutique receives new collections every two weeks and only a small quantity of each style is available to maintain exclusivity.
Janice currently employs one part-time member of staff and she has also formed strong links with the University of Chester.
One student, who worked on the website, continues to assist as an external consultant.
A second student placement assisted with the organisation of a charity fashion show in May and is now is a key part time member of the team assisting with the website orders and customer service
The website will continue to operate from the Handbridge premises.
Janice said: “Our move to the city centre is very exciting for us, Watergate Street is a perfect location for Chateau de Sable with lots of unique, independent boutiques so I feel we will fit in very well.
“Handbridge was the perfect place for us to start the business but we desperately needed more space and this is the next natural step.”
