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A well-known fabric and sewing supplies store in the Central Market is up for sale, with the owner hoping for a newcomer with "a fresh eye" as she prepares to retire after 26 years in business.
Needle Treasures, which is located on the Beresford Street side of the Central Market, is looking for a new owner with "some fresh ideas and fresh energy to push it to the next level".
Despite being on the market for over a week already, the sale of the haberdashery shop gained traction earlier this week following a social media post from an islander in need of a specific type of cotton.
David Carey shared the news of the cotton and thimble supplier's sale in a local Facebook group.
Pictured: The Needles Treasures advert describes the shop as "something of a treasure and not one to be missed".
The post gained hundreds of likes and many comments, with islanders expressing their sadness at the loss of the longstanding local business.
Sarah Frazer of business broker Lakey Offshore said that she has already been engaging in "proactive discussions" with potential Needles Treasures buyers, with a substantial rise in interest since the social media post.
Barbara Sullivan, the owner of Needle Treasures, described it as a "really good little business" and thanked her "brilliant customers over the years".
The dressmaker explained that she had "always dreamed of opening her own shop" following her time working at Voisins, and had had made "lots of friends" throughout her time in business.
Pictured: The owner of Needle Treasures described it as a "really good little business".
Ms Sullivan said that she would not be leaving the store until someone else took over, stating that it "has always done well" but is in need of "a fresh eye".
When asked if she had any tips for the prospective custodians, the Needle Treasure owner said: "You should be open-minded while purchasing stocks, catering to all tastes and staying up-to-date with trends.
"But 'when in doubt, leave it out', meaning you would ultimately go with your gut instinct."
More importantly, she added that "you need to enjoy what you do".
Pictured: Ms Sullivan said that Needle Treasures would benefit from a "fresh eye".
Ms Sullivan described the Central Market as a "really good environment" to work in – but admitted that it has "stood still" with "not many changes" throughout her 26 years in business.
However, the shop owner said that the location is now entering a "very exciting time" due to the Government's plans to revitalise the town markets.
These plans aim to turn the market into a vibrant hub, featuring live entertainment, extended operating hours, and more al fresco dining options.
Various initiatives have already been launched, including the setting up of a strong social media presence and creating pop-up shops for local artists.
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