THE owners of a thriving pottery firm have said their late mum who died of cancer would be "very proud" after they were nominated for a top award months after opening.
Jean’s Craft Room, based in North Hill and run by Alison and Diane Parsons, only welcomed its first customers back in October last year.
The family-run business allows customers to buy and paint various types of pottery and decorate them during an allotted session in a calming environment.
It has now been nominated in the Best New Business category for the 2024 Colchester Business Awards, alongside 12 other firms.
The Colchester Business Awards is brought to the city by the Our Colchester Business Improvement District (BID) team.
It’s used as an opportunity to bring businesses and the community together in celebrating of the exceptional firms located within the city’s centre.
Alison said: “We are both thrilled with the nomination and very surprised after only being open for four months.
"We got at least one nomination from a family member, which was a huge surprise.
"We are both very excited to be considered in the category of best new business in the awards."
Alison, 40, and Diane, 59, opened and named Jean’s Craft Room after their mum Jean Parsons who adored crafts and died in 2019 from lung cancer.
Items painted at the shop are inserted into a 1,000-degree kiln to add the “shiny effect” to the pottery before customers are informed of when they can collect the finished pieces a week later.
Alison added: "Our Mum Jean would have been very proud of us and so pleased we have been nominated.
"She would have been telling everyone about us and the shop and how well we are doing."
Voting for the Colchester Business Awards closes on March 27 before the final shortlist of businesses is confirmed.
Voting will continue on April 15 until April 29 and the winners will be announced on June 5 at Firstsite in Lewis Gardens, High Street.
Next week Jean’s Craft Room is holding a women-only ‘Galentines’ event and an adult Valentines late night event on February 13 and 14.
On Sunday March 10 to celebrate Mother’s Day a promotion will be held where every mum painting on the day is giving a free glass of something fizzy or a non-alcoholic drink.
The public can vote for their favourite business by heading to tinyurl.com/445e5yn5.
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