A Wiltshire business owner is still going strong at 88 after more than three decades trading in the town centre.
Joan Pressley established Joan Pressley Hats in Devizes 37 years ago when she started the business, which supplies high quality ladies’ headwear, from her conservatory.
She moved to a shop at The Wharf before finding a permanent home at St John’s Alley in 1993.
Joan has since been a staple of Devizes’ independent business offering, alongside her daughter Kathyrn Courage, and has gained “international reputation” supplying hats for Royal Ascot, weddings and garden parties.
The idea for the business first came to her while she was searching for a wedding hat in 1987.
“I thought, ‘you can hire weddings outfits or evening outfits, so why not hats?’”, she said.
“I just bought a load, got them home to Devizes, put an ad in the Gazette and Herald on the Tuesday, and by Thursday lunchtime I had my first hat out.
“I’ve still got the £5 note I took that day and have never looked back since.”
Since then, the business has continued to grow and now offers the latest hat fashions from leading designers and a bespoke re-trimming service.
The shop is now by appointment only, due to high demand around events like Royal Ascot.
Despite Joan celebrating her 88th birthday, she says she has no plans to slow down any time soon.
She added: “We’re still busy and people love coming, people are coming for happy occasions so it’s a nice atmosphere.
“I’m very lucky to still be able to come to work every day and having the opportunity to do something this lovely has kept me going.
“I thoroughly enjoy it so there’s no way I’m going to stop, I don’t feel 88 so I’d rather chat to people than lie in bed all day.”
Joan and Kathryn, who joined her mum in the business after leaving the teaching industry, have faced multiple changes and challenges over the years.
But Joan says they have remained a successful business thanks to the loyalty of their customers.
She said: “We’ve had lots of lovely, loyal customers, and the fact we get to know them and offer a personal service is what’s kept us going.
“We’ve even had people who have brought their daughters in for their weddings and then their granddaughters come in for their weddings years later.
“They come in with all the clothes they’re going to wear, we match them up, and off they go.”
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