Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the Week: Treasure Island Sweets, St Nick’s Market
On a recent afternoon, Gareth Thorne was weighing out some Dolly Mixtures at Treasure Island Sweets.
It’s a scene that has happened in sweetshops for generations but behind the scenes here there is a business fit for the 21st century.
As well as their shop in St Nick’s Market, Treasure Island Sweets have a warehouse off Novers Hill where their online business is based and they send sweet treats from Bedminster to across the world.
is needed now More than ever
Treasure Island Sweets was founded in 2003 by husband and wife team Wesley and Toni Thorne, who now focus on the online business while Wesley’s brother Gareth runs the shop.
Wesley and Toni previously worked in photography but while travelling in Belgium, saw a lollipop shop and thought they could do something along those lines in Bristol.
“Everybody thought they were mad,” Gareth remembered. “They started out with just 20 jars and made £2.75 on their first Christmas Eve out the front (of the market).”
Hundreds of different sweets are for sale at Treasure Island – photo: Martin Booth
Gareth came on board after a few years, originally making up the website orders in the shop and taking them to the former Post Office on Baldwin Street.
The team took a lot of risks moving their business predominantly online but they have since flourished.
There are 300 different sweets in the shop – many on display in traditional glass jars – and around 1000 for sale online.
“People tell me that Treasure Island Sweets is a staple of Bristol life these days,” Gareth said.
“You get so many people come through as kids who have been in and they come in as adults now.
“We’ve still got the very first customers who came to the market stall out the front, they still come in here every couple of months now.
“They’ve got four kids and one of those did work experience with us.
“I know how lucky I am to work in a place where people are happy. Ninety-nine per cent of the people that come in here are happy or leave happy and that is great.”
Treasure Island Sweets is in the covered market section of St Nick’s
Treasure Island Sweets, 55 The Covered Market, St Nicholas Market, Bristol, BS1 1LJ
www.treasureislandsweets.co.uk
Main photo: Martin Booth
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