Fundraiser launched to secure crafting shop future

Three best friends are fighting to keep their independent crafting shop alive amid a rise in business costs.

The Kiwi Fruit is Cute in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, hosts charity events and hosts free community-drop in sessions.

When their previous home at Cavendish House was forced to close earlier this year, the shop moved to Lower High Street. Their new location means that overheads have "doubled" and they have since launched a crowdfunder to help cover these costs.

Siobhan Westmacott, one of the shop's founders, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "We are really in the position of trying really hard to make sure things can keep going month on month."

The shop is known for its Make & Mingle sessions, which see people travel from far and wide with their own projects to knit, sew or craft in a group rather than complete the tasks at home alone.

Charities, such as Oscar's Community Corner, also use space in the shop for their own crafting projects.

Westmacott continued: "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.

"As much as the business is growing... it is a real struggle at the moment. We are in a difficult period.

"This [the fundraiser] is so we keep open and keep things inclusive and affordable."

The Kiwi Fruit is Cute, named after an old email address of Westmacott's, was also founded by Samantha Potter and Zarina Ismail.

Potter said: "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 say the fundraiser will help place a core restock order, fill gaps on the shelves and give the shop some breathing room while sales continue to build.

"It is for the practical stuff that keeps the doors open," their crowdfunder says.

The Kiwi Fruit is Cute also has a charity application pending, but this is expected to take several months.

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