THE OWNER of a new Witney gift shop believes her 'unique' range of products is the key behind a successful first few months.
Alison Graham opened A Tasteful Experience in Langdale Court in September, which stocks a range of British-made goods exclusive to the store.
Read more: Shops combine talents to boost trade
She began trading just in time to benefit from the Christmas rush, but Ms Graham feels her emphasis on the shopping 'experience' has proved beneficial.
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She said: "You won't find us anywhere else in the world, it's all unique.
"It's a tough retail climate, but I don't sell anything that can be delivered on Amazon the next day."
"I can't compete with someone like Amazon, but I give people a choice.
"Christmas showed me I've got the offering right."
Ms Graham, who lives outside Witney, called the idea to stock entirely British goods a 'lightbulb moment', particularly with the uncertainty surrounding Britain's exit from the European Union on March 29.
Read again: Witney's small businesses fear impact of Brexit
The 46-year-old has built up a regular group of customers, thanks in part to the 'experience' of sampling tasty treats and using 'beautiful packaging'.
Ms Graham was previously a reflexologist, a type of health therapy, but revealed she realised this 'wasn't going to pay the bills'.
Her son suggested she should open a gift shop and after considering opening in Oxford, Woodstock and Bladon, she realised the unit in Langdale Court was perfect.
She said: "Witney's got the right demographic profile.
"It has a great mix of chains and independents."
Visit atastefulexperience.co.uk/
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