We visited an independent women's fashion store in the heart of Newton

The clothing store opened on the high street in 2017 and has since branched out with a store in Westbrook and a pop-up shop in Lowton.

Debbie Makin, owner of Willows, opened the shop following her frustration towards the lack of guidance for clothing shoppers. 

She said: “We really do go up and beyond, that’s why I started the business.

“I was sick of going into town centre stores where there was no help or guidance, and this is why we started Willows.

“I started it up and never believed it would grow and grow the way it has. The whole business is about getting to know our customers and building a loyal customer base."

Debbie Makin opened Willows in 2017 to offer shoppers support and guidance on clothing

Discussing the business’ position during the cost of living crisis, the 45-year-old added: “It’s always on the back of our minds.

“We just want to ensure that we carry on and work with our customers to get the clothing in at the right price and affordability.

"We just hope that we come out of it the other side.”

The three-floor shop has made quite an impression on the high street, with regular customers heading to Willows for fashion support. 

Seasonal Ladies Night where prosecco and nibbles are served have also previously been hosted by the shop, with Debbie hoping the event can make a return. 

The return of seasonal Ladies Night is on the cards

With Summer around the corner, Willows discuss the top picks in their summertime collection.

The mum-of-two said: “We’re finding that dresses are the key pieces. Everybody wants a summer dress that they can wear with their trainers or flip flops.

“I think people are going out and want to dress up more than we’ve probably ever done before.

“We have different ranges on each floor so there’s something for everybody. The front is our Made in Italy which is more fashion paced so we cover all bases.”