Margaret calls it a day at Baby Box shop

If you were brought up in or around Bo'ness and went to school or the Fair Day, the chances are you would have been kitted out by Margaret Fraser.

The much loved and well respected shop owner has decided to call it a day at Baby Box, with the shop shutting in October after 19 years of service in the town.

Margaret previously owned video shops in Bo’ness called Video Review and Dean Video on Dean Road, with her husband Alistair.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She opened up Baby Box a few years after he passed away – it was something they always planned to do, she said.

The idea came many years ago when she was shopping up in Falkirk and found babies and young kids’ items to be too expensive.

She said she wanted a shop that was more affordable and at everyday prices as kids at that age grow out of clothes so quickly.

Baby Box specialised in babies’ newborn clothes right up to children aged six but finally closed its doors to the public on October 22.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was a great service and glowing smile that she will be remembered for and Margaret (64) says she always aimed to put the customers first.

People have been coming up and saying to me it’s not going to be the same without you,” she said.

“I would like to think I treated people the way I would like to be treated in a shop. I just wanted to make customers happy.

“I would just like to say thanks to my staff and thanks to all the customers who kept me in business.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She joked: “I should get a medal for serving the Bo’ness public!”

Margaret, of Kelty Avenue, plans to enjoy her retirement now that she has some more free time on her hands by making improvements to the house and garden and looking after her parents.

However, she concedes she will find it hard without the camaraderie with the customers - who appreciated that personal touch - but there is one thing she won’t miss.

“I’m looking forward to not having to get up in the morning and go into a cold shop any more,” she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But I will miss all the company. A lot of people came into the shop if they were feeling down or whatever then we would have a wee chat.

“I liked that people felt they were able to share things with me and confide in me.

“I knew a lot of the customer’s secrets but I will be taking them with me to the ground.

“They said they felt better when they left the shop so that was nice to hear.”

Related topics: