Blackpool gift shop expands at The Garden Place

A gift shop in Blackpool is celebrating two years of trading by expanding its premises.

La Shak now occupies almost four times as much floor space in The Garden Place, a garden centre on Cropper Road, as when it was first established.

Entrepreneur Linda Adams launched the business with support from Blackpool Council’s Get Started service and today sells a mix of gifts, candles, bags and scarves.

The company is just one of more than 1,000 businesses to have launched since the Get Started programme was introduced eight years ago.

Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for business and economic development, Cllr Mark Smith, commented: “La Shak is a great example of how we’re helping people to become their own boss.

“The expert advice that those fledgling businesses receive is really helpful and means that they can continue to trade and grow.”

Speaking further, Cllr Smith said that around 88% of the companies to received support via Get Started over the last two years are still operating.