Each week Sidmouth Nub News will be featuring a different business or organisation in the town to help support our wonderful community.

This week, we speak to Sharon Hobson of Flutterbys, in Fore Street, Sidmouth.

Tell us about your business?

Flutterbys is a local shop specialising in beads, buttons, crystals, cabinet knobs, jewellery findings, craft supplies, gifts and much, much more! We love all things bright, sparkly and cheerful.

We are open seven days a week, 10am until 4.30pm.

It all started with a passion for making jewellery. I then started doing it online at home before I started looking for a premises. I opened up a pop-up shop and that then allowed me to move here and I have been here more than six years.

We have a making area, where we encourage people to make their own jewellery and crafts, although that is closed at the moment.

At the moment we are offering to put bits and pieces together for customers, to help minimise the risk.

I have also developed new craft kits, which is just a little something to help people who like to make things at home.

How have you been affected by Covid?

I would say we are definitely running on less staff and that is affecting us.

We are probably around 35 per cent down on what we would be normally making.

I have put myself back on the shop floor and am doing more and more hours myself and I have never felt more tired.

We are only having five people in the store at one time but people are being very patient.

I would really like to urge people to shop locally and help keep local businesses going.

What achievements are you most proud of?

My husband passed away just after I opened my first pop-up shop and Flutterbys gave me something to focus on.

I feel like I have achieved something and have found great pleasure in building the business.

We have lots of pretty things and it is like a children's wonderland.

I love that feeling when the children get that light in their eyes and they have that smile on their faces looking at their little bag of treasures.

Sometimes it is a 10p bead but because it is shiny and nice they love it.

I really try hard to make the front of the shop look pretty too, in hopes I can help brighten up the street and make people smile when they walk passed.

What plans do you have for the future?

We are taking everything day-by-day and week-by-week under the current circumstances.

I am still very passionate and will also try to keep thinking outside the box for what we can offer.

Why Sidmouth?

I love the sea and I love the people.

Visit Fluttebys' Facebook HERE.

If you would like to feature in our next 'Close Up' feature email [email protected] or call 07549 692050.