South Shields mum Claire has family business all sewn up

Claire Gallagher, who has launched her new business, PompomHats.uk

Claire is set to cast off with a new knitting business which will specialise in making handmade knitted pompom hats.

The South Shields business woman originally took up knitting and sewing as hobbies, but with requests for bespoke knitted items coming thick and fast, has decided to follow demand and launch her own business, Pompom Hats UK.

Holly Gallagher models one of mum Claire's hats.

“I’ve always enjoyed making hats and costumes for our girls. People would see these, and make requests for similar items. I’ve always been ambitious, and wanted to run my own business too.

“I’ve found that people really do appreciate our high-quality, hand-made goods. Our pompom hats are practical, keeping you lovely and warm, but also unique one-off knits.

“As good as I am, I can’t make two exactly the same, and our pompoms are interchangeable, so you can pop on a vibrant bright pom when it suits or pick a natural colour to match the occasion.”

PompomHats.uk is a real family business. It will operate online initially, from a website created by husband and marketing consultant Stephen, while daughters Lucy and Holly have already appeared in a short promotional video.

Baby Joseph will make his debut modelling the Christmas collection soon.

“Fashion is a difficult and incredibly competitive market in which to start a new business,” said Claire.

“That’s why we’ve put together a really clear strategy. We’re not attempting to compete with the factory-made, mass-produced hats.

“Instead, we’ll stick with high-quality, hand-made. We’re a small local business and we’re using that to our advantage.

“Our hats are distinctive, and our customers appreciate that each hat takes time, and is lovingly created – in South Shields.

“We’ve got off to a great start and have been listening to customer feedback and requests, which have included custom colours, matching snoods, and more sizing options when it came to children’s hats.

“We’ve already responded to these, and now offer sizes from birth through to adults. You just wouldn’t get that with big brands or mass produced product sourced overseas”.

For more information, visit www.pompomhats.uk.