Rochford's independent shops and why shoppers love them

The market square is closed to traffic every Tuesday for the weekly market day.  Located on the square is Perfectly Peachie which established in 2015. The gift shop specialises in handmade and personalised gifts.

Lynn Peacher said: “I am in my eighth year running the shop and I focus on personalised handmade goods with 40 per cent of my stock handmade working with local creative people.

“You can come in and order personalised plaques, memory boxes, light blocks with quotes, jewellery, hearts, bunting.”

“Rochford is such a lovely place with so much history, Henry VIII used to ride around here with Anne Boleyn, more people should know that!”

Personal touch - Lynn Peacher (Image: Lynn Peacher)

Emma Nichols, owner of Miss Daisy, has run the shop for 24 years. So, what is the secret to success?

“It’s all about great customer service,” said Emma.

“I want people to feel relaxed when they walk in the shop and to leave happy with what they have purchased. I have lots of regulars who like what we do and who I am very grateful for.” 

Great service - Emma Nichols, owner of Miss Daisy (Image: Newsquest staff)

Over on North Street there is The Upper Crust bakery owned by Lydia Wiblin and her dad Rick.

They took over in 2020 after her dad left his role as an IT managing director.

Lydia was 17 at the time and juggled her studies with working at the bakery.

“I love working here, it’s a real community place and we know all of our regulars and make sure they get the food they love and great customer service.

“Our best sellers are the lovely cakes my mum Sarah makes as well as our big ‘Jumbo breakfast’  for £9. Previously the bakery would close early and was quite irregular, so we made a point to open at set times six days a week at 8.30am until 2pm.

Michelle Adlington, Rick and Lydia Wiblin and Phoebe Edmeades (Image: Newsquest staff)

“Our busiest times at 12pm when on Tuesdays Fridays, and Saturdays it can peak at anytime.”

“We do takeaway for any meal and cater to people and can alter dishes on the menu. We have lots of people with additional needs who come in regularly and they order their meals for lunchtime and we prep their evening meals for them.”

Community spirit

With news that the much loved butchers J Mac Meats will no longer be running at the premises in Market Square, Rochford, we speak to local businesses about the changing landscape for shops and what can be done to keep the town thriving.

Yvonne Tuffin, runs Rio boutique in West Street. She originally ran a jewellery and handbag shop next door to where she is located now for many years before relocating to Spain for five years. She returned to the UK and has been running her fashion boutique for two years.

Yvonne Tuffin, runs Rio boutique in West Street (Image: Newsquest staff)

Yvonne said: “It is sad that J Mac Meats has gone now, it was a place people knew about and would travel to. They did special barbecue meat and it was great quality. It is a shame for Rochford that they are gone.”

Yvonne says there are positive schemes going on in the area to encourage people to shop in Rochford.

“On Mondays business can post on the ‘Caring About Rochford’ Facebook page to promote what they are doing. This has had a good impact on trade for me. I love Rochford and lots of people know me here and my customers have been very positive about the shop.

“I started out in the shop up-cycling, painting and embellishing furniture. I stopped that due to having long Covid and decided to run the shop as a fashion boutique, which is going really well.”

Gogontle Kgoathe, assistant manager at Havens Hospices on the square, believes there are things that can be done to entice more shoppers to the area.

“On market days there are lots of people in the market square and we notice we get a lot more people into the store. If there could be more initiatives to bring shoppers into the area it would positively impact the businesses here.”

Gogontle Kgoathe, assistant manager at Havens Hospices (Image: Newsquest staff)

The Havens Hospices shop had a new refit last year.

“It is a lovely location and there is a sense of community in the area.”

Ibi Andrew took over The Flower Basket on West Street last September: “I used to work at the florist before taking over and last year. I’ve had a lot of support from other business and our regular customers.”

History of Rochford market

Rochford was granted its first charter in the mid-13th century and North Street, East Street, South Street and West Street grew around the market. 

The charter of 1247 permitted the market to be held every Tuesday and the tradition continues to this day.

According to rochfordtown.com Medieval markets were a lively affair with entertainment from acrobats, jugglers, cock fighting and even dancing bears.

The vendors would sell from carts or set up booths, stalls or tents to sell their goods.

Shoppers did not have the luxury of being able to pop in a shop and all goods and services were found at the market. 

It would sell things such as meat, fish, livestock, grain, flour, pies and beer. Household items such as oil, candles, nails, cloth, wool and rope could be purchased and people could access the services of carpenters, potters and potion sellers and more.

The property known as King’s Hill in East Street is thought to have been the market administration building.  The market was the lifeblood of the town until the turn of the 18th century when the market collapsed.

The locals were unhappy because the nearest market was over twenty miles away, so in 1707 it was revived.