Eight St Helens businesses aiming for success in 2023

Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted a selection of St Helens businesses, allowing owners and managers to share the secrets to their success, whether they’re a recent start-up or a long-running family establishment.

From coffee shops and book shops to venues full of nostalgia, here is a round-up of the companies which have been featured as the St Helens Star Trader of the Week.

Gyles Charnock from Old Tom's Workshop

Old Tom’s Workshop

A premium woodwork and furniture business that dates back four generations and more than a hundred years is our Trader of the Week.

Current owner of Old Tom’s Workshop Gyles Charnock is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and great grandfather carving out a career in the bespoke woodworking business.

The 37-year-old has been putting his inherited skills to good use and won the 2022 Business Startup of the Year Award at the St Helens Borough Business Awards in September.

Read their story here: The workshop dating back four generations that makes amazing creations

Mirror Mirror owner Lisa Kenrick-Thacker

Mirror Mirror

Celebrating its fifth anniversary is no mean feat for small businesses in the current economic climate but that’s exactly what Mirror Mirror has just done.

The shop, which specialises in women’s fashion and accessories, opened its doors in October 2017 after owner Lisa Kenrick-Thacker ran the business from her home in Nutgrove.

Lisa told us how she juggles running the shop with working full time as an executive assistant, how business boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic and why her customers rely on her honesty when it comes to buying clothes.

Read their story here: “There’s only one Mirror Mirror and people appreciate our honesty”

Retro Chimps' Steve Kay and Hughie Brennan

Retro Chimps

No two jobs are the same when it comes to a design and fit business and when you throw Johnny Vegas into the mix anything could happen!

Steve Kay and Hughie Brennan opened Retro Chimps ten years ago, specialising in custom shop fitting, interior design and signage.

We spoke to the talented twosome and Steve, who grew up in St Helens, and Hughie, who has lived here for 20 years, shared what it’s like working with Johnny Vegas and why they decided to take a step back in time when they opened their business.

Read their story here: Retro Chimps encourage customers to take a step back in time and create the wow factor

Superhero Day at The Book Stop's Here

The Book Stop’s Here

Trader of the Week: The Book Stops Here

The Book Stop’s Here has been open for less than 12 months but is already a popular place for booklovers and bookworms to spend time browsing the shelves.

It opened in November last year and has more than 10,000 titles in a wide range of genres so there promises to be something for all tastes, interests and reading abilities.

Here manager Nik Lowe tells us what The Book Stop’s Here so special.

Read their story here: The book shop aiming to improve literacy and get everyone reading for enjoyment

The Gaming Suite

The Gaming Suite

From Pac Man and Space Invaders to Call of Duty and MineCraft, there promises to be something for everyone at The Gaming Suite.

The business opened just 12 months ago proving popular with youngsters looking to immerse themselves in the high tech world.

But the company has been a surprise hit with local schools, who use the prospect of spending time online playing computer games as a motivation and reward programme for pupils.

We heard from The Gaming Suite’s owner Neil Smith as he told us how people of all ages have been enjoying entering the virtual world and why the repair side of the business was inundated with jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read their story here: Pac Man or Call of Duty? The Gaming Suite offers the complete virtual experience

Vinyline

Vinyline

From Portugal to Sao Paulo and back to St Helens, Vinyline Signs and Graphics has customers all over the world.

Currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, the family-owned third generation business knows what works and what doesn’t when it comes to high specification large format print and signage as well as site hoardings, vehicle graphics and everything in between.

Co-owner Keith Hughes talked about the history of the business and how he hopes to one day pass it on to his sons and grandchildren.

Read their story here: The St Helens printing and signage business serving fashion icons to consumer brands and everything in between

Georgie Porgie's Cafe

Georgie Porgie’s Cafe

Georgie Porgie’s Café opened for business just as the Covid-19 pandemic was taking hold of the country.

Having been diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia, Michelle Nelson Greensmith faced an uncertain future thinking she was unemployable.

However, she decided to open her own café – something which she’d wanted to do for years – and after offering takeaway breakfasts, cakes and afternoon teas, the St Helens resident was finally able to open the café doors and welcome customers inside.

Michelle shared her experiences of starting and running a business over the past two-and-a-half years and her hopes for the future.

Read their story here: The St Helens town centre café that’s a little gem

Intaglio Creative's work on display at The Totally Wicked Stadium

Intaglio Creative

Intaglio Creative is making all the right connections.

They can count Lord's Cricket Ground, Arsenal FC and Manchester Grammar School as satisfied customers.

But it's the latest partnership with St Helens Rugby Club that owner Kevin O'Brien is most excited about as they help the club mark its 150th anniversary.

Kevin O’Brien shares his vision for the business' future.

Read their story here: The St Helens business helping generate millions of pounds in revenue

If you would like to appear as our Trader of the Week, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

You’ll receive a Q&A giving you the chance to tell us about your business, which can be returned via email together with a selection of photographs of the business, your products and yourself.