In Ballymena we all like getting gifts although we’re also told ‘It’s better to give than to receive’! Whether you’re buying a gift for someone else or someone’s going to treat you to a nice gift we all like to have a good selection to choose from. There are several good gift shops in Ballymena and the surrounding area where you can choose from. We called in to one Ballymena gift shop – The China Shop on Ballymoney Street to ask a few questions.
The China Shop is one of the longest established gift shops in Ballymena. How long have you been trading?
The China Shop was established in the late 1960’s and is still a family run giftware and home accessories shop. Over the years we’ve helped many people from Ballymena and much further afield to choose their dinnerware, homeware and occasional pieces & also helped many couples set up home as we supplied their wedding gifts and accessories. It’s also great to have so many loyal customers calling in on a regular basis when they need a gift for all the special occasions in their lives.
Fashions and trends come and go. What’s popular in the gift world now?
Through the years trends constantly change but at the minute brand names like Belleek Living from here in NI is popular. Also in big demand is Aynsley Living, Emma Bridgewater & Suzie Watson. ‘Vintage’ is a big thing now, so that has meant a big upturn in the sales of Royal Albert, a company which has been operating since 1896.
You obviously sell more than china. What else is available here?
A fantastic range of accessories and the finishing touches for your home. We always have, in stock, a good selection of occasional furniture items, mirrors, clocks, pictures, candles and figurines. Also a good seller at this time of the year as we come into the darker evenings are lamps. We have a great range of statement lighting from Mindy Brownes Interiors here for the autumn/winter season. And finally, we recently brought in a fabulous range of jewellery, just in time for the busy Christmas season.
Here at Ballymena Today we love to promote and support local business. There are many good gift shops in Ballymena but today we featured The China Shop. It has a great selection of gifts for all occasions and many items to make a house a home. They will be delighted to see you in their shop on Ballymoney Street. You can like their Facebook page here and browse or buy from their website here
