A well-known family-run business which has been trading in Abergavenny for more than 40 years which continues to flourish in the town is preparing for a changing of the guard as the next generation of the family prepare to take over the business.

Jaybee soft furnishings supplies a wide range of quality goods including curtains, blinds and upholstery across Monmouthshire and other parts of the UK, with their store and gallery based in Frogmore Street.

The business is run by husband-and-wife team John and Judith Bannon and during their many years trading in the area they have built up a strong reputation for giving their clients the opportunity to utilise their experience to buy fine furnishings.

Having first started the business in 1980, John and Judith – who also live in Abergavenny - are now in the process of handing the business over to their daughter Philippa and her husband Matthew, who will take over the running of the business in 2022.

Speaking to the Chronicle about the decision to retire, John said: “Myself and Judith have a great sense of pride in our business and how we have built it up over the years, and we anticipate the business flourishing for years to come under our daughter Phillippa’s care.

“We have great support from other family-owned businesses in the area and are now looking forward to the next generation taking over the business.”

Having left university with a BSC in Accountancy, John Bannon started Jaybee soft furnishings in 1980 opening a store in Abergavenny on Cross Street where they were based for 17 years before moving to their current premises on Frogmore Street.

Over the years the business has grown to become one of the most prominent and popular traders in Abergavenny, with people travelling from afar from places in Mid-Wales and Cardiff to purchase their quality products.

The business retains a strong relationship with their suppliers and is even ranked by the Sanderson Design Group as one of their top five independent traders in the UK – a noteworthy achievement given the group supplies stores in many UK cities.

John is particularly proud of their reputation within Abergavenny and the close association they have managed to maintain with the town and local residents.

“We have always enjoyed trading in Abergavenny and it has always been great fun to be part of the retail sector in town”, John said.

Having been working in the town for a long time, John has also noticed a significant change to Abergavenny in his time and believes the town is looking as strong as it has ever been.

He said: “I believe Abergavenny is one of the fore-most retail towns in Wales, with a fantastic mix of traders and the high street has also been very well-kept which helps in welcoming many visitors to the area.

“There has been a remarkable change over the last 40 years, events like the Food Festival have had a great impact and it benefits local businesses to have strong town so I think everyone in Abergavenny is reaping the benefits.”

Like most businesses Jaybee furnishings were forced to close on numerous occasions due to the Covid pandemic, but since reopening have enjoyed strong sales.

John added: “We have recovered quite nicely now as a business, clients needed to refresh furnishings following Covid so spent significant amount of money on our products and we remain very busy with trading at present.

“It was difficult during Covid we were obviously worried about the sustainability of the business, but we received grants from Monmouthshire County Council which really helped us through and we have been very grateful for their support during the last 18 months.”

An active member of the community having been involved with several local sports clubs along with the Rotary club, John has also taken heart from how other local businesses and traders in Abergavenny have recovered from the pandemic and is happy to see the town thriving again after such a challenging period.

“It is a real pleasure to see the town thriving”, John said. “I think Covid has made a lot of people more appreciative of small businesses like ourselves, and there are now a wide range of independent stores back up and running and have provided a real significant boom to the area.

“It is great to see small businesses in the town fighting back and long may that continue.”