Iced Inspirations, a staple of Ryde’s High Street since 1995, will close its doors next month as owners Kathie and Keith move operations fully online.
The much-loved shop opened some 30 years ago and has been a key part on the town’s main shopping stretch ever since.
The popular business – started by Kathie Harris with the help of her then husband Colin – has occupied 3 separate premises in their 30 years and is currently located at 71 High Street, at the junction with St John’s Road.
Before opening the shop, Kathie used to host sugar craft classes and would often supply tasty cakes for her son’s school fetes. Kathie was well known in the community as a skilled wedding cake maker and still gets people asking for her cakes to this day.
Speaking to Island Echo, Kathie described her feelings when she first opened the doors of the first Iced Inspirations shop back in March 1995.
“It was always my dream.
“I remember when we very first opened I wasn’t able to tell people we were about to open up, but on the first day, we put £70 through the till. I was very proud.”
For the last 20 years, Kathie and her partner Keith – along with various members of their family and loyal staff – have worked tirelessly, sometimes even pulling all-nighters to meet the various demands of the business.
During COVID-19, the Iced Inspirations website boomed, with Kathie and Keith often working 7 days a week, completing as many as 35 deliveries in a single day. Whilst the online side of the business grew from strength to strength, the bricks and mortar store struggled with the pair admitting that during the period of nationwide struggle, people’s shopping habits changed dramatically.
It is now hoped that the decision to go online-only will allow the business to continue to prosper.
In the years that followed the pandemic, renovations have been completed at the couple’s house that will allow them to store, sort and pack orders from home. Customers will also be able to pick up from Kathie and Keith’s house.
Speaking on the decision to close the shop, Kathie and Keith have said:
“It’s hard work running what feels like two completely different businesses at the same time and it doesn’t make sense to work every hour under the sun to keep both going when one is no longer financially viable”.
“In the years that followed the pandemic, footfall has dropped. When you couple in things like parking charges and the price of petrol, then things just aren’t as busy as they used to be.”
“Thank you to everyone that has supported us over the years, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
Though they expect to be as busy as ever with the online side of the business, Kathie and Keith are hoping that the change will allow them to spend more time with their families and enjoy some well-deserved holidays.
Iced Inspirations currently delivers Island-wide on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information visit their website or their Facebook page.
The store will close for the final time at 16:00 on Saturday 3rd May.
Sadly another business bites the dust, thank Rachel
for that, who’s next!
“It’s hard work running what feels like two completely different businesses at the same time and it doesn’t make sense to work every hour under the sun to keep both going when one is no longer financially viable”.
“In the years that followed the pandemic, footfall has dropped. When you couple in things like parking charges and the price of petrol, then things just aren’t as busy as they used to be.”
So no mention of Reeves. I’m no fan of hers but why do you keep making pointless comments on everything?
Because this current Government have left
many people including us pensioners less
money in our pockets to spend.
That is why I like to mention accounts clerk
Rachel.