THE owners of a successful card and gift shop in Burnley have taken time out from the festive rush to praise ELTEC for their advice in helping them set up 18 months ago.

Pat Sunderland and Carole Gibbins run the Crafty Things shop in Standish Street stocking cards, chocolates, soft toys and hand crafted items.

The duo have gone from strength to strength since setting up and are fulsome in their praise of both ELTEC and the Burnley Enterprise Trust for providing them with solid foundations in their early days.

Pat said: "Carole and I set up the business after spotting a gap in the card and gift market but while good market research and hard work have certainly played a part, so too has ELTEC's Firmbase scheme.

"The thought of setting up our own business was very daunting but once we knew that help was available our confidence grew and although we won't be able to expand for a while yet, we both hope to own a chain of shops in the not to distant future!"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.