A ST NEOTS baby store next week marks the milestone of reaching its first birthday, despite a challenging opening year s trading. Vicki Wilson opened Bonza Baby & Kids in Church Walk, St Neots, on May 28 last year to cater for what she saw as a growing ma

A ST NEOTS baby store next week marks the milestone of reaching its first birthday, despite a challenging opening year's trading.

Vicki Wilson opened Bonza Baby & Kids in Church Walk, St Neots, on May 28 last year to cater for what she saw as a growing market of young families in the town.

The shop will be offering special discount deals as a celebration for reaching its first anniversary.

Mrs Wilson said: "This is my first venture in retail so I've been on a huge learning curve.

"When more and more high street shops were closing their doors, my husband and I decided to take the risk to invest in the Bonza Baby & Kids store.

"We felt a baby and children's store was so desperately needed in St Neots, with so many young families in the area. We hope we can ride out the economy's bad patch and be here for the families of St Neots at the end of it all."

Mrs Wilson said that the economic doom and gloom affecting all businesses had made starting a new company especially challenging.

She added: "It has been difficult being off the high street and working with a limited advertising budget, and we are constantly trying to figure out how to let the people of the town know we're here. Even after a year I think there are still a lot of people that don't know the store exists.

"But we have great customers who love the store and often tell us they hope we're here to stay - so fingers crossed I can make it work.