Busy NHS nurse opens 'mini market' gift shop in Ayr, supporting Scottish crafters

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A busy NHS nurse has realised her dreams in opening her own craft and gift store in Ayr town. Lesley Beales has opened Bea Crafts and Gifts on Smith Street offering a range of goodies from various suppliers including cards, candles, jewellery, bags, glass ornaments and pet accessories.Lesley, 55, not only sells her own cards, paintings and handiworks but also supports Scottish crafters by allowing them to rent a shelf in her shop to sell their products.Lesley, who lives in Coylton, said: “It’s like a kind of mini market.“There’s 27 different crafters.

All of them are from Scotland, a lot are local and some up in Glasgow way.“They rent a space and whatever they sell they get 100 per cent.“It’s supporting them and allowing them to have a High Street presence without the outlay."Lesley, who has worked in the care sector since the age of 16 before switching to nursing 13 years ago, has been crafting since she was a kid.“I’ll try anything,” she said.“If someone comes in and wants a particular product or something personalised, I’ll say ‘tell me your idea and I’ll try it’.“I never throw anything out either because I just use everything." But Lesley, whose husband John owns another gift shop in the town, The Wise Penny on Ayr’s Newmarket Street, is keen to encourage customers to ‘use us or lose us’.

She said: “So many people come in here and say ‘this is exactly what Ayr needs’, but you need to support it.“Even if you can’t afford to buy anything, share it on Facebook, tell your friends or share the word, even something as small as that.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free