Birthday girl aims to be Number 1 (From Gazette & Herald)

Birthday girl aims to be Number 1

IT was a birthday like no other for Marie Payne when her husband Mark bought her a shop to celebrate.

Number 1 Saville Street in Malton is to become the second branch of the couple's popular bath and beauty store Tangleberry Wood, which they launched in the Market Vaults in Scarborough last year.

Selling hand-crafted bath bubbles, soaps, lotions and potions as well as candles, incense and much more, it sources a lot of organic goods, and caters for people who suffer from skin complaints, asthma and allergies.

Marie turned 36 on January 26, and the shop was opened on Saturday, almost on time.

"Marie was over the moon," said Mark, 35. "Obviously, we talked about it and it wasn't a complete surprise, but I wanted to coincide the opening with her birthday." The shop is similar to the high street chains Body Shop and Lush, but with an organic twist.

"We want to look specifically at smaller towns and market towns rather than bigger cities," said Mark.

"York is very expensive and there is lots of competition, so when we were looking to branch out, Malton seemed ideal. I think we'll have quite a good reception here."

Mark is a music teacher and Marie used to work for the business school at Hull University's Scarborough campus.

"I am still teaching but we are focusing more and more on the business," said Mark.

"It is ambitious to open a second shop after only one year, but things have been going well and people come back to use us again and again. I think you have to go for it."

Updated: 15:23 Wednesday, February 08, 2006