A Nottinghamshire woman who started up a business around a dining room table has opened her shop in Arnold that sells 'anything bespoke' after a revamp. House of Harman has operated for 18 months from the hidden Chapel Lane, opposite Asda and the Arnold Leisure Centre
Aimee Harman, 35 started her business at home in 2014. Now, working with one other member of staff, Aimee spoke all about the individualised gifts she sells, made from scratch and within minutes.
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Aimee sells wedding products, mugs, house signs and “anything bespoke”. The Woodthorpe resident said: “In 2019, I had moved house and the garage was converted into a workspace but it wasn’t big enough! There aren't a lot of shops like this anymore, there aren't many places with good quality bespoke gifts made within 15 minutes.”
“At the moment our house signs I’d say are the most popular but it depends on the time of year like at Easter, we’ll sell Easter mugs and with Christmas coming up soon we’ll be doing personalised Christmas velvet stockings.”
Inside House of Harmans, there’s a laser machine and UV printer. Most of the business’s prices range from £5-£25.
Aimee continued: “Before, the place was dark and dreary but it looks more inviting now. We put our new sign outside and we’re having a sign put up on one of the walls inside too. “99.9% of our orders are online, we get messages from customers who need things urgently and I’ll tell them to pop into Arnold and come back in half an hour when it should be ready.”
Speaking about the hardest things to make, Aimee said: “I made a cake topper at the weekend where individual letters have to be placed.”
Aimee, who is mixed race, explained the importance of representation. She said: “On pieces with drawings on them, I always do different people on them. As someone who’s mixed race going into places like Clinton’s you don’t see people like yourself and I think when growing up, that was clear, so where we can do a diverse range of people, we 100% will.”
Gedling’s Conservative MP, Tom Randall, said: “I am always pleased to see independent businesses investing in my hometown of Arnold and House of Harman is yet another example of why people should browse in the wonderful shops across Gedling”
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