On 1 August, flash floods caused havoc for gift and lifestyle store MiMi in Hartley Wintney, with owner Julianne Moore seeing two floors of her shop severely damaged, and 40k of stock written off.
“It was one of the hardest and most challenging few days in my life and MiMi’s journey,” admitted Julianne. While other Hartley Wintney businesses in the high street were also affected, MiMi suffered the most damage.
Realising the shop was going to take a minimum of three months to dry out, she immediately began the fight back, with new stock and best sellers on the MiMi website, and the garden’s Secret Shed opening to keep the business going, alongside MiMi’s sister store in Wokingham.
Last Friday, (30 August), some four weeks after the flooding, Julianne went one step further still, opening a MiMi pop up shop in the village to keep things on track until the main high street building is repaired and ready to be re-stocked.
“One thing I’ve learned over the last four weeks, since the horrific weather turned my shop upside down, flooded my building and stopped us trading, is that smaller independents are the heartbeat of the high street and we are really valued,” stated Julianne. “I’m so humbled by the outpouring of love from our customers, old and new, and the community I live in.”
She continued: “My shop has another 12 weeks before we can trade in it again, but with our pop up shop in a temporary new building just down the road we’re open again.”
Julianne added: “I wouldn’t change my job for all the tea in China – we are a fabulous resilient lot who should be proud of all our achievements. Love what you do and remember you’re really valued by the communities you live in. Butplease check your insurance to make sure you’re entirely covered,” she advised other independent retailers. “Thank goodness we were!”
Top: MiMi in Hartley Wintney was recently hit by a flash flood, destroying £40,000 worth of stock.
