Published at 09:42, Friday, 29 January 2010

A BELLINGHAM couple are hoping to toast the success of their new business venture in Hexham.

Saying it with flowers: Jo and Andrew Foster who have opened Dillies, on Market Street, Hexham, selling exclusive wines, flowers and handmade chocolates.

For Andrew and Jo Foster have re-opened the long-closed Newsell shop in Market Street as a top notch gift emporium.

They believe they have found a niche in the market by selling exclusive wines, flowers and hand-made chocolates.

And they have called the shop Dillies, which means “something deemed to be delightful.”

Jo explained: “We wanted to do something a bit different, and felt that Hexham was just the place to do it in.

“We will be selling exclusive wine that you cannot find in Tesco or Waitrose, but at prices that won’t break the bank.

“Bottles start at £4.99, and go up to £30 for a very nice bottle of champagne.”

It is pure coincidence that the shop has opened following the closure of two other wine outlets in the town in recent months.

Jo said: “I don’t think we could be regarded as an off-licence, as we will only be selling wines, not beer.”

Dillies will supply flowers for all occasions, from weddings and funerals to corporate functions, as well as providing bouquets.

The chocolates are all handmade by a firm in Penrith, and as well as individual chocolates, the delicacy comes in bars of varying cocoa content, right up to a mouth-watering 85 per cent.

Dillies provides a delivery service, complete with gift cards and wrapping.

Jo and Andrew both have a background in retail at senior management level but this is their first venture in their own right.

Jo said: “Starting our own shop is something we have wanted to do for a while. It was just a matter of finding the right place, and we believe that Hexham has just the right feel for what we want to do.

“It is very exciting.”

The shop will be open six days a week, 9am-5.30pm.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk