While some businesses are closing or scaling back their high street outlets and going online, Nathan West and Ko Asakura are going in the other direction.

Having built up a thriving online business selling vintage furniture on eBay, Mr West had never considered having a shop front.

But as the business flourished, their house in Morrell Avenue was becoming overcrowded.

“We weren’t looking for a shop, we were looking for warehouse space,” said Mr Asakura.

“It just happened that last year we came across this shop for sale.”

Their shop, Gilt & Grain, is in Hollow Way, in a former hairdresser’s opposite the Smith and Low hardware shop which dates from 1947.

“We were very lucky to find this. In Oxford it’s very rare to find a freehold premises so we jumped at the opportunity, and we’ve been helped by small business rate relief and retail rate relief.”

He added: “We’ve tried to make it easy to come in and look around and people seem to like our products.

“I think we have proved that Oxford desperately needed a shop selling affordable furniture, antique and vintage.”

The pair met while studying at Huddersfield University.

Mr Asakura was previously manager of Toast, in Oxford High Street, and Mr West, who studied building conservation, is a carpenter by trade.

He said: “I have been a carpenter since I left school so this was an easy transition. When you buy from auctions everything needs repairing and I would rather sell things in good condition.

“I still earn a living from eBay and it’s a bit unusual to go from being online to having a high street presence. But when you combine the two it’s a nice way to earn a living.”

He hopes their success will encourage a new trend in Oxford for affordable furniture and decorative objects, now that campaigners have persuaded the Government to encourage small shops.

They received about 72 per cent discount through small business rate relief, and another £1,000 off through Chancellor George Osborne’s retail relief.

Mr Asakura said: “In the past year or two they have knocked quite a bit off business rates for small shops. I think we pay £27 a year, so it seems like the ideal time to start up. Oxford once had lots of secondhand and antique shops but they unfortunately closed.

“To buy or lease on Cowley Road is not far off Summertown rates. That’s why we have opened out here.”

For more information, call 01865 778539 or see giltandgrain.com

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