Published: March 21, 2024 | Updated: 21st March 2024
“It’s honestly been absolutely crazy.”
So say Sahra and Dayne Ward about the last 12 months for their business, Flaming Nora’s.
And with good reason.
As Sahra says: “Alongside SOBO we somehow opened a café, launched our new shop in Poole, relocated the café to the Avenue in Bournemouth and added (with help from BCP Council) a stay and play for pre-schoolers.”
No wonder the mother-of-three feels they’ve been through something of a whirlwind.
Flaming Nora’s opened its original shop in Seabourne Road, Southbourne, about six years ago.
Much more than just a toy shop, it also offers what’s described as pocket money marvels as well as home items and gifts ‘from birth to birthdays.’
The business expanded with a planned six-week Christmas pop-up shop at Bobby’s in Bournemouth turning into a near two-year stay.
That came to an end last September but Flaming Nora’s and Spill the Beans Café can still be found in Bournemouth with a successful play area on the first floor of the Avenue Shopping Centre.
And now it’s become the newest independent retailer to find a home on KINGLAND at The Dolphin Poole.
Officially launching its new site in November the business is attracting a new band of loyal customers.
Sahra said: “We have been made so welcome and love the camaraderie and togetherness we’ve found in Poole.
“It’s also lovely that our customers in Southbourne are coming to visit us in Poole and the other way round, too.
“These are tough times for everyone but we’ve received some fabulous feedback and couldn’t have asked for more support.”
Flaming Nora’s owes its name to the reaction of surprise and delight Sahra and Dayne like to engender from customers when they find something novel and unusual.
The retailer says it hopes to inspire visitors to escape reality and encourage grandparents to play with their grandchildren.
It puts sustainability at the heart of the business with gifts intended for their longevity as well as ability to be shared across generations of the same family.
Sahra said Flaming Nora’s now employed five people at its three sites.
She said: “We think there’s still a place for independent businesses like ours.
“We have an absolutely fantastic team and so much of our success is down to them.
“I love what I do.
“You chat to people of all ages and seeing, and hearing, their reaction when they come across some of the things we sell is just lovely.
“We’re just so pleased to be in Poole now as well.”
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