After 56 years and at the age of 85, due to retirement and sudden changes of circumstances for the family members who help run the business, Mrs Little has made the decision to close the shop. We thank each and everyone of you for your loyal custom over the many years and hope that you wish Mrs Little a well deserved retirement, now the shop has closed.

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Mrs Little and her late husband bought the shop in 1969. It had previously opened to other owners in 1963.

It was a very different shop then, to what it became. Mrs Little moved with the times and although she is best known for being either a school uniform shop or a Dancewear shop, she had many different clothing businesses over the years.

Mrs Little's Sister has written this wonderful poem which captures how Mrs Little moved with the times over the decades and shaped her "Little shop":

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Fifty Six Years on-A reflection on The L.J.Little Emporium

 

56 years on and I look back in awe and wonder

What it was like on that very first day

Anxiety and fears were put asunder

As we had to make this new enterprise pay.

 

A “Gentleman’s Outfitters “is what we had bought

Rather a little old fashioned, some people thought

With flat caps, waistcoats, thermal vests and the woolly sock

But we also bought extra, more modern stock-

Velvet bow ties, fitted shirts with a frill,

So the young men of Northwich could dress up to kill.

That first window display made some old fogies frown

But then the word got around to the young men of the town.

On Thursday night the young bucks got their pay

And wanted eye-catching fashion, straight away.

They rushed to come in, crisp notes in their pocket,

I left the door open, and did not lock it.  

Then at seven I closed the door,

With boxes and paper all over the floor.

Tidying would have to be done in the morning,

For now my children were nearly snoring.

Precious ones, to put to bed,

With bath and story in their head.

 

The lads would be back the following week

Saying, "Similar, but now in purple is what I seek“

Flash shirts with frills were our best line.

And they would revisit, time after time.

But fashions change, young men grow old

We expanded the school wear side, a move quite bold.

We sold school uniform, all smart and neat

Getting stocked up correctly was indeed quite a feat

For children come in many different shapes and sizes

So it was one of our more difficult enterprises.

Blazers with badges, trousers, shirts, skirts, kit for P.E.

A lot of stock to order and store, as you can see.

One year the school starters would all be so small

Then wouldn’t you know it? The next in- take was tall

 

I started to stock popular fancy dress –

I’d been asked to by those who wished to impress

At parties, functions and other “Do’s”

And I fitted them out, right down to their shoes.

If they could not find what they wanted on the shelf

I rashly offered to make them a costume myself.

Christmas was such a busy time

With school productions and pantomime.

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I’ve made hundreds of angel costumes, over the years.

Many a mum has rung up, chocked with tears,

“Oh Mrs Little, I quite forgot and am in sorrow

It is the school nativity tomorrow.

Have you a costume that I can borrow?

He has to be a sad, kind donkey

But my stitching has all on gone wonky

Can you make him one tonight?

I’ve tried my best, but he looks a fright.

 

Those were the years of my sewing machine,

Whirring away and sewing a[i]seam.

A cloak for a king, a coat for an ox

A colourful top for a “Jack in the Box”

 

Selling dance wear has been my favourite part.

Dance and its costumes are close to my heart.

Equipping a young dancer with a costume new,

Fitting that very first ballet dancing shoe.

Folding the ribbons and shiny leotard,

As they hope their first lesson will not be too hard.

Over the years I have watched them grow

From that first lesson up to their latest show.

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Ballroom shoes and shoes for the bride,

I’ve stocked the lot-it’s been my pride

To strive for personal service, go that extra mile.

To have happy customers, who leave with a smile.

Once, to the relief of a bride’s anxious mother

Who thought that the bridesmaids’ shoes had been bought by another.

I fitted their shoes in the car, before they travelled to church.

So the beautiful bride was not left in the lurch.

I‘ve watched with joy, many a Carnival Queen

Curtsying in the shoes that in my window she’d seen.

 

In recent years I’ve had a back seat

As my daughter, Becky, measured ballerinas’ feet.

Pointe shoe fitting is a skilled, trained art.

For these dancers need a perfect start

As they stand on their toes higher and higher

To dance professionally is what they aspire.

But she is a dancer, singer and thespian too

Turning down offers that come in anew

Now is the time for her to choose

Her career or fitting dancing shoes?

Yes, now is a good time to stop

And close THE LITTLE family shop.

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It has been hard work and fun too

Serving customers, most of them loyal and true.

I see them still, from time to time.

Knowing that their lives have been part of mine.

A mature man walks past, with a wave and a wink

His fashion has changed, but it does make me think

Did he win that lady, he supports on his arm

By wearing my shirts, to give him confidence and charm?

He’d been a young man who loved a shirt with a frill

And now a smart look is there with him still.  

Sometimes I have had ladies come in

Who hesitate, smile and say with a grin:

“Oh goodness, I remember you,

You sold us my very first sticky out net Tu Tu.

This my granddaughter, she’s starting tap,

I want her fitted here to avoid a mishap

That would make the shoe uncomfortable and cause her to wobble

Oh, and while we are here, she needs a hair bobble”

A granddad comes in, “Hello Mrs Little”, I hear him say,

“I bought all my bowties here, back in the day.

Now here’s my grandson, he’s starting gym

Have you any snazzy shorts suitable for him?”

 

I shut the shop door and cannot but wonder

At those busy years as they drift away

Yes, I look back so far and asunder

As I lock my shop up on its very last day.