Shoe shop looks like perfect fit for Bulstrodes in Framlingham

A business owner, who has added a shoe department to his ever expanding shop, has expressed his delight at the new addition.

Shoes at Bulstrodes opened in Framlingham earlier this month, and quickly accumulated close to 200 sales in a matter of days.

Run by Donna Hammond and Karla Smith, the new venture has taken up residence inside Bulstrodes in Bridge Street.

It means that shoppers can now browse carpets, flooring, toys, sporting goods, stationery and arts and crafts – all under one roof.

Owned and run by Bill Bulstrode, the business recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, having started out life as a carpet fitters.

The 71-year-old, who moved the enterprise to its current home 25 years ago, said he could not be happier with the response since launching two weeks ago.

“We have had an excellent start and we are delighted with how it is going,” he told the Diss Express.

“In the first two or three days, we sold close to 200 pairs of shoes.

“People have thanked me for bringing a shoe shop back to the town and I am glad we have been able to provide them with that again.”

Mr Bulstrode, who provided a base for the town’s post office when a number of premises were flooded in 2023, has made a habit of diversifying in order to keep attracting shoppers.

“When Donna came up with the idea for a shoe shop, I thought we should give it a go,” he said.

“It is always a gamble to try something new in business, but I am sure it will pay off and that is down to our customers. I cannot thank them enough for their support.”

Mr Bulstrode, who was awarded a BEM for services to the community in the New Year’s Honours list last year, added: “Though I have lived in Occold for 47 years, I am a Framlingham man born and bred. I love the town and love what I do.”

As a reader, we know the value you place on trusted local journalism. At the Diss Express we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from our communities, and we can only do this with the support of our readers.

By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission, you also unlock a whole host of benefits, including unlimited access to ad-lite websites and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers. You can find out more about subscriptions here.

Use the promo code KEVINHURST to get an annual subscription for less than £25 - we really appreciate your support. Thank you.