6/15/2021

A seamstress who specialises in making high-quality clothing for babies and children is expanding her business and moving to larger premises in Wigston, Leicestershire.

Janet Stringer, who launched The Handmade Elephant three years ago, is moving to the Magna Shopping Centre, where she has agreed a five-year lease with national commercial property and investment company LCP, which manages the centre.

She has started fitting out kiosks three and four, total 305 sq ft and which used to be a florist, and hopes to open mid-July.

The new shop will provide a new service for customers so they can buy fabrics to make clothing themselves or order items to be made. Janet will also offer matching t-shirts and sweatshirts for children and adults.

"Because I am moving from South Wigston to a bigger shop I can offer this new service and I'm really looking forward to doing that," she said. "I'll just begin by offering t-shirts and sweatshirts first in adult sizes and see if there is demand for other items. I'm excited for this new chapter in my business's story and can hardly wait to open."

Barry Flint, associate director at LCP, said the letting follows three new tenants - a funeral director, ladies' gym and a hairdresser - signing up at the neighbourhood centre in the past 12 months.

"It's ideal for local shoppers, right in the heart of this busy and popular town centre," he said. "As specialists in convenience parades, we understand just how important these centres are for the community, so we work hard to attract tenants that will bring significant benefit to shoppers living nearby."

Oliver Marshall, of FHP, which acted as letting agent for LCP, added: "Demand for local neighbourhood units that are smaller and more affordable has never been greater, so it's good news to have signed up another tenant at Magna Shopping Centre for LCP. We're also in the process of agreeing terms for the last available unit, which will make the centre fully let for the first time in a couple of years."

Neil Harrison, in-house solicitor at LCP, completed the transaction.