Today, we catch up with Ann and Dave Mourant, who took over at Beekers in 2022…
What do you offer?
A wide selection of items, predominantly cards, stationery, including back to school ranges, gifts for special occasions, and balloons.
When did you set up and why?
We bought Beekers in 2022 from Brian Le Prevost, who had run the shop for over 45 years, of which 16 have been based on the Bridge.
We already take in and deliver ironing through our other business, Iron Maiden, so when we saw that Brian was planning to retire, it seemed the perfect opportunity to change my hours and invest in retail.
There is nothing we are currently planning on changing at the moment, as it is a fantastic shop. It had been built up over so many years and runs perfectly.
What is your favourite part about running this business?
We both really enjoy meeting people and helping them with their purchases.
What has been the most challenging part of running this business?
In general the costs of buying stock and also bringing it into the Island.
We also moved to new, much larger premises on the Bridge this year, which meant a huge amount of work before and on Liberation Day, so we could be ready to reopen on 10 May.
What sets you apart?
Our philosophy has always been to offer a good, fair price for everything and also a wide selection of items.
It is also satisfying to see we have a loyal customer base, with many islanders who have been regulars for a very long time.
What goals do you have for this business?
Now we have settled into the new premises, we aim to expand our ranges but continue to offer good quality.
What’s your favourite thing about living/working in Guernsey?
We are both Guernsey through and through and it’s a lovely, safe place to live, so we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
From a business point of view, we do need islanders to shop locally and support our retail sector.
We are hopeful that the Bridge, with all the changes planned, including the development of Leale’s Yard, could become more of a thriving hub in the next few years which is exciting.
What’s your favourite way to unwind?
Ann – a gin and tonic plus yoga (obviously not at the same time…)