CHELTENHAM — Three friends who run an independent crafting shop are trying to keep it afloat after business costs rose sharply and their overheads doubled following a move to a new unit. The Kiwi Fruit is Cute, which moved from Cavendish House to Lower High Street earlier this year, has launched a crowdfunder to help cover day-to-day expenses and keep the doors open.
The shop is known for its charity work, free community drop-in sessions and Make & Mingle events, where people bring knitting, sewing or other craft projects and work alongside others. One of the founders, Siobhan Westmacott, said the business was in a month-to-month struggle and that the owners were putting their own finances into it to keep it going.
Community sessions and charity use are at the heart of the shop’s offer
The Kiwi Fruit is Cute has built a following around sessions that are designed to be inclusive and affordable. The Make & Mingle events draw people from a wide area, with customers travelling with their own materials so they can craft in a shared space rather than stay home alone.
Charities also use the shop for their own projects. Oscar’s Community Corner is among the groups that have used the space, underlining the role the shop plays beyond simple retail. Westmacott said the crowdfunding appeal was intended to help the business remain open while continuing to offer those sessions to the community.
She said the team was working other jobs and taking no wage from the business, instead putting everything back into it. The owners say the new fundraiser is about the practical costs that keep the shop running, rather than expansion or new ventures.
Founders say the business is growing but still under severe pressure
The shop was founded by Westmacott, Samantha Potter and Zarina Ismail, who described themselves as best friends for more than five years. Potter said they did not want to give up and wanted to keep making the business work despite the pressure.
The crowdfunder is expected to help place a core restock order, fill gaps on the shelves and give the shop some breathing space while sales continue to build. The owners said this support would make it easier to manage the immediate costs of keeping a small independent shop trading.
Westmacott said that although the business was growing, the current period remained difficult. The appeal is aimed at helping the shop stay open and remain accessible for customers who rely on it for affordable crafting space.
Charity status application could take months as owners wait for longer-term support
Alongside the crowdfunder, The Kiwi Fruit is Cute also has a charity application pending. The owners said that process is expected to take several months, leaving the shop reliant on short-term fundraising and trading income in the meantime.
The business has framed the appeal as a way to buy time while it continues to build sales and manage the higher running costs at its new site. The move from Cavendish House to Lower High Street brought the shop more visibility, but it also brought substantially higher overheads.
For now, the founders say the focus is on keeping the shop viable month by month. Their message to supporters is that the fundraiser is about maintaining a community space that combines retail, workshops and charity use in one place.
The latest UK news and stories from Bailey Universe.
