THREE independent business in Richmond are celebrating their birthdays this month.

Goosewing Studios, The Cheese Press and Strolling for Shoes are all marking another year in business and looking forward to the year ahead.

Carol Watson opened Goosewing Studios, at The Station, in March 2023 and said she was thrilled the creative space has flourished. She said: “Goosewing Studios has two elements – it is both a space to create and sell my own jewellery as well as a space to hire out to other artists.”

Having moved from a stall in Richmond’s Indoor Market, the new workshop and retail space provides more space to design and sell jewellery handmade with recycled, rescued and refreshed beads and broken pieces, finishing each with sterling silver.

Carol added: “My Repair Service has grown too, as has the opportunity to undertake commissions, including work with inheritance beads, which is a complete honour and privilege, and always wonderfully emotional.”

“I also provide shared workshop space for hire to other artists, including painters, card-makers, a book-binder, who has used the space for workshops, and even a reflexologist.”

Opening hours are usually Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 4pm; email info@goosewingstudios.co.uk.

The Cheese Press, in Victoria Road, is run by Amber Lee and Mark Howe.

Amber said: “In March, we’ll be celebrating two years since we opened The Cheese Press. In some ways it feels like a lot longer and in other ways there’s still so much to do! During that time we’ve doubled our range of cheese and sourced additional artisan cheeses produced locally making connections with some great local suppliers.

“We’ve expanded our range of accompanying products and introduced wines and spirits. We also host monthly cheese tasting events which have been a real success as have our grazing boxes which we launched last year.” For more information, email info@thecheesepressrichmond.co.uk.

Strolling4Shoes, Market Place, is owned by Andrew and Sue Marshall, is a family business, and opened its doors in the Lake District in 2005.

Son Fraser, who works as an agent for the business, said: “This time last year we decided Richmond was the perfect town to expand the business.

“We have built a fantastic team of local staff who are dedicated to helping every customer find the right pair of shoes for them. From the day we opened the doors, we have received an extremely friendly and supportive welcome from our customers, many remembering the old shoe shop that was once in the same building and even more saying how happy they are to have a shoe shop back in Richmond.”

Contact fraser@strolling4shoes.co.uk for more information.

All three businesses say being part of the Totally Locally campaign has been helpful in promoting their shops, and have been involved in many of the local initiatives to promote local shopping and seasonal events.