IT’S a real family affair for a retail Factor finalist at The Mall, Blackburn.

Entrepreneurial teen couple Alex Cunliffe and Amy Dunn were just 14 when they set up printing and embroidery company Inkthreadable, with Alex’s twin brother Aaron and sister Heather, 28.

The business, which started when Alex and Amy sold personalised mouse mats, hoodies and T-shirts to classmates at St Bede’s School in Blackburn, now has a showroom and offices in Almond Street, Darwen.

They are in the same building used by Alex’s parents, Peter and Kathy, who run a baby mattress company. Now they have started a two-week trial trading period on a merchandising unit in The Mall after being named finalists in the shopping centre’s Retail Factor competition.

The company is personalising and selling its popular range of iPhone and iPad covers as well as T-shirts, baby blankets, mouse mats and teddy bears.

The competition was launched in January to provide budding entrepreneurs with an opportunity to broaden their horizons and the chance to win a £10,000 business package.

Three companies were short-listed to take part in the final and each business has been allocated two weeks on a retail merchandising unit.

The others chosen were Islamic art specialists Baitul Fhunoon and bespoke chocolate making company Simply Chocolicious.

The winner will be awarded a £10,000 prize featuring two months rent-free retail space in The Mall Blackburn and £500 towards stock.

Alex said: “We are really excited about trading in The Mall. We feel our products will be a big hit with shoppers there. We are very much looking forward to an exciting future.”