Hot on the heels (From Living Northeast)

Hot on the heels

1:08pm Thursday 18th February 2010 in

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She used to concentrate on turning heads.

Now feet are the thing for Leyburn boutique owner Charlotte Barker, she tells Sarah French.

FOR eight years Charlotte Barker has been half of a mother and daughter team that has beautified the women of Wensleydale and beyond.

Now with her new Head Over Heels shop off Leyburn Market Place, North Yorkshire, Charlotte is moving from face to feet.

The stylish mum has just opened the shoes, handbags and accessories shop a few doors down from the hair and beauty salon she runs with her mother, Ann Brackenbury.

“Having talked to a lot of ladies about what they want, I decided to branch out,” explains Charlotte.

“There isn’t anything like this, either in Leyburn or nearby towns such as Richmond and Bedale. We’re trying to offer something different on the doorstep so people don’t have to travel to the city to find stylish shoes, boots, bags and accessories.”

Once she got the idea, Charlotte headed off to a buying show in Birmingham to place her first orders.

“There used to be a shoe shop in Leyburn and I know Rieker was a popular make there so I’ve gone for those.

They’re a slightly wider fit and I stock up to a size eight, which can be ordered for anyone who needs bigger sizes,” she says.

The 28-year-old also stocks Marco Tozzi and Spanish makes Pilar Abril and Menbur, which otherwise are only available in Fenwick, Newcastle.

Remonte Dorndorf are a wider fit range – up to a size H – while all the ranges begin in size three.

“I’ve tried to choose styles that are a bit for every day or dressing up. I also think it’s important to offer matching handbags with many of the styles. I find it really frustrating when you buy a nice pair of shoes for a special occasion and then have to traipse around trying to find a bag to go with them,” says Charlotte.

As well as bags to match the shoe ranges, she also stocks handbags and purses by Elite and Ali & Lou, and the jewellery collection is by Topaz Glow, a great value range of chunky bangles and necklaces.

Everything is displayed for easy trying-on in the boudoir-style shop, with flashes of hot pink against a sophisticated black and white background.

“Leyburn is a busy town and it is actually quite hard to find empty premises here, unlike many places these days. I think it’s a sign that Leyburn is doing well and people will always be attracted to small towns which offer something different,” says Charlotte.

“We’re already attracting customers from Durham and Leeds and have lots of holidaymakers calling in who are really pleased to find nice shops in rural towns. I’m really pleased with the start we’ve made.”

■ Head Over Heels, 2 Railway Street, Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Open Monday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Tel: 01969-625234.