Today we’d like to introduce you to Fiona Bagley.
Hi Fiona, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in England, while serving with the British Army in Berlin I met my husband who was serving with the US Army. We moved to Dahlonega in 2018. I saw a “for lease” sign in the window of an old building on the Square and without really knowing what I was doing reached out to the owner. I had always wanted to open an English Tearoom but as this space didn’t really lend itself to that concept I went with “British foods and gifts.”
Our youngest daughter, Katz, was born with mild cerebral palsy, she was enrolled in a culinary program at Kennesaw University. She has always had a passion for baking and I knew that she would be fabulous in our food department. We signed the lease on the store a week before the whole world shut down due to covid. Not a great start! We finally opened on the 3rd of July 2020 and had to close down just two weeks later due to my husband getting Covid. The store has been very well supported by locals and tourists alike and thanks to them we were able to move into a bigger space in January of 2022.
We sell British foods such as scones, crumpets, chocolates, sausages, bacon and so much more. Our gift side of the building is very varied, with linens and bone china from all over the UK. We are also very proud to stock Mason Cash an iconic British company that has been in business since 1800. If you watch Downton Abbey or The Great British Bake Off you have seen their bowls. We also stock stationery, puzzles, hats, candles, Royal themed items, British Pop Icons and so much more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our first major struggle was opening a retail store right as Covid hit.
We didn’t even know when or even if we could open the store. Covid had a big impact on us actually getting products. Not only was it difficult to find it was also difficult to ship, especially as most of our items were coming from Europe and many of the ports were shut down.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We sell British foods and gifts, and the majority of our product is made in the UK. We are very proud to have a personal relationship with many of our suppliers. We also sell items made by small American businesses if they have a British flair! We pride ourselves on providing not just an excellent shopping experience but an excellent personal experience. We make sure that each and every customer knows how grateful we are for their business.
Many customers have gone on to become great friends and we are so grateful for the loyalty of our customers. We often put the kettle on for tea! We are heavily involved in the community and take part in several of the town parades, (Christmas, July 4th). Not to be outshone, our Corgi Waffle, is the store mascot. He has his own Instagram and Facebook page and is quite the little celebrity in town.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I tend to be more of a risk taker, my husband is more conservative, and that balances things out well. I’m always looking for new adventures! I’m the epitome of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ sometimes that works out, and sometimes it doesn’t!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @crownandbeardahlonega
- Facebook: www.facebook/crownandbear
Image Credits
Reagan Powell
