Shop Talk: A.Boville Wright Ltd

THE art and craft shop A.Boville Wright has been an integral part of the Amersham street scene for some 14 years. It promotes an interesting range of art and craft items.
The company's future plans are focused on redoubling their efforts in a bid to ward off the economic downturn which is adversely affecting the retail sector.
Deborah Williams, who has been with the company virtually since it opened its doors in Amersham, has been manager for the past 10 years.

Q. What are the strengths of the business?
A. It is a splendid shop. We have no competition in Amersham. Our customers are very loyal and they come in to the shop and provide us with repeat business.

Q. How is the credit crunch affecting you?
A. We are doing quite well and we have bucked the trend. In times of crisis people tend to look to their hobbies to avoid all this gloom and doom.

Q. How is morale among the staff?
A. We have a good team of four. They are excellent and we have enjoyed continuity here at Boville's. I have skilled colleagues who are quick to learn.

Q. Aside from art, do people come in for other things?
A. We have all kinds of hobbyists, those who do what we call scrapbooking. Ours is a well stocked store and there is a lot of interest in our items. Our website receives a lot of attention from our customers and we can be contacted at the following address: www.bovilles.co.uk.

Q. What are your thoughts on Amersham as a commercial hub?
A. It is really improving, especially since Marks and Spencer came here. There is now a good variety of shops. The downside is that things are tough at the moment. For example, rents are going up and this will affect a lot of shops.