A North East family are preparing to launch a new shop selling sensory and fidget toys inspired by their nine-year-old daughter's business idea.
Feeling Fidgety is the brainchild of Thalia Maddren, who was adopted by Lisa Maddren, and her family alongside her ten-year-old sister Tara, eight years ago.
The new shop is set to open on Park Road in Hartlepool, offering fidgets, sensory products and pocket-money toys for children.
Thalia has ADHD, which she is proud of, and has played a major role in creating Feeling Fidgety, from choosing its name and products to helping with the design of the shop.
Feeling Fidgety
(Image: SUPPLIED)
Lisa, 55, who has lived in Hartlepool all her life, said the shop is creating a space for her daughter and children with similar needs.
She said: "My nine-year-old daughter had the idea and wanted to open somewhere more local to us, where we could go.
"Thalia has quite a few difficulties relating around her previous life experiences.
"She has been diagnosed with ADHD and she’s very proud of that.
"Because of her ADHD, she’s very creative. She already has a huge business sense and keeps on throwing all these ideas at us.
"She thought of the name of the shop as well. When we did the buying for the shop, we took her to Harrogate and she felt everything, deciding what should go in the shop and what shouldn’t, she has been so involved with the whole process."
Although the business will focus on fidget and sensory toys, Lisa said it would also stock affordable items children can choose for themselves with their pocket money.
She said: "Children with ADHD seek dopamine, so for her to be able to go out to the shops and spend her pocket money, nothing overly expensive - as long as she comes out with something, then she’s happy.
"We wanted to create something closer to us in the town, where we’ll have weekly drops so the stock keeps changing all the time, and children can go in and choose whatever they want without it breaking the bank."
Thalia has also designed the shop’s logo with help from family friend and co-owner Rebecca Atkinson, known to the family as Auntie Becky, who will help run the venture.
The shop is expected to open in the coming weeks.
(Image: SUPPLIED)
The young entrepreneur has been involved in the refurbishment too, helping choose the flooring and making decisions on the shop’s appearance.
Future plans for Feeling Fidgety include competitions inviting local children to design their own squishies.
Thalia also wants to dedicate a wall in one room to artwork created by children from the community.
Lisa said she was "incredibly proud" to be creating a space for children like her daughter in the community for their needs.
Lisa said: "It’s not about two women thinking, ‘Let’s make a bit of money from this.’ It’s about Thalia’s idea. We call it Thalia’s dream.
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"She knows what she likes and what other kids like. We don’t know what other children like the feel of. She does, so we’ve gone with everything that she tells us. We’re incredibly proud of her."
The family has now secured the keys, and stock is already filling their home, with the final touches now under way.
Despite an official opening yet to be announced, Lisa hopes the shop will be open within the coming weeks.