A PERSONAL service is key for independent shop owners, according to those on Tredegar Street in Risca.

Helen O’Sullivan set up Risca Pine Centre 30 years ago, selling pine furniture and gifts, before moving to Tredegar Street in 1990.

She believes that the personal touch is the main reasons why customers shop at local, independent shores.

“The key thing is I get to know my customers personally,” she said. “I build a relationship up with them. We do try to go that extra mile for the customers. We will help them choose products and will gift wrap them for them.

“I serve four generations of one family in the area. It’s an absolute privilege that I served their grandmothers, their mothers, the daughters, and now they’re buying for their babies.

“But also I think that speaks for itself about the community and how they trust me to find the right thing for them.”

With the introduction of supermarkets, and now the move towards online shopping, Helen feels that there is an opportunity for independent, local stores to take advantage.

“Shopping online is easier, it’s convenient, customers don’t have to struggle in the high street.

“I have tried to emulate the convenience of online shopping in a physical way. I have created my shop how I want to shop. It’s a one-stop-shop.

“Definitely, the more independent shops there are the better. It keeps people in the high street, providing customers with choice is a really good thing.

“With these big brands closing down, I think there is an opportunity for independents to emerge and sell individual products and I think that people are going to want that. It will come back and our smaller high streets, in places like Risca and Merthyr and Brynmawr will have a chance to bring back independent shops.”

Chocolate Dragon café and coffee shop opened in the beginning of July, and offers shoppers bespoke cakes as well as the more traditional café experience.

Owner Diana Rascanu said: “I found the community very nice when we opened. They were very supportive. They came in with good ideas of how to improve the shop and to make a small community in here.

“We have a close relationship with our customers. We know what they like, and they know us. It’s very nice. In here everyone is unique and is treated as an individual.”

Diana works as a nurse, but a love of cooking and baking that runs throughout her family led her to opening Chocolate Dragon.

Some of the cakes take up to two days to make and decorate.

The café runs a Romanian day, where customers can experience traditional Romanian foods, as well as the usual British menu.

“The first one was a real success, so we decided to do it every Saturday,” said Diana. “British people say that its different and it stands out. It’s a very simple way to show a part of Romania without travelling.

“At the same time there is a big community of Romanian and Polish people in Risca and Newport and its nice for them to feel at home sometimes.

“In the end of the day it’s about community and being happy.”