A NEW shop in Malvern town centre is defying talk of economic trouble and doing well, says its owner.

Julie Burton opened Emerald Grove in Church Street on the site of a fabric shop that closed its doors earlier this year.

She opened the shop for the first time on Saturday (May 2) and got a great response from the shopping public.

Julie, aged 36, from Bromsgrove, said: "For a very long time I have wanted to open a shop showcasing and selling the work of talented people, especially from this country. It is a very important policy of mine to reduce the carbon footprint and keep things green, hence the emerald in the shop’s title."

A former web and graphic design consultant, Julie has been making jewellery and clothes for some years and is a regular exhibitor at Worcestershire Arts Markets. Many of her fellow arts market designer will be helping to stock the shop.

"I chose Malvern because I knew it quite well and its seems hopsitable to independent retail outlets. I feel it's the right place for a shop like this," she said.

"Things are going really well. I've had a very positive response, and on Saturday and Tuesday, I was very busy."