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Kindred spirits join forces for new venture

TWO Blackburn College graduates have joined forces to launch their own spiritual business.

When Alison Cockerill met Sharon Robinson for the first time, she knew instantly they were destined to work together.

Now a year on, the two kindred spirits have opened their first new-age shop, called Spiritual Emporium, in Blackburn town centre.

The shop, thought to be the first of its kind in the town, stocks a wide range of goods including incense, candles, divination tools and greeting cards.

Customers can also take advantage of various complementary therapies, such as Swedish massage, Holistic massage, Aromatherapy massage, Hot Stones massage, Reiki, Indian Head massage and Reflexology.

Alison says the venture is ‘the fulfilment of a lifetime’s ambition’ and she puts her newly-discovered entrepreneurial spirit down to her time at Blackburn College, where she studied a foundation degree in Complementary Therapies.

The 45-year-old, from Redlam in Blackburn, said: “For years I have always wanted to do this. It wasn’t until I met Sharon and started my degree that I released someone else shared my dream and we could team up to move it on and make it happen.

“I’ve received a lot of support from the University Centre at Blackburn College as well as help through the Blackburn is Open project. There’s nothing like our shop in the local area – we spotted a niche and went for it.

“We officially opened on Thursday 30th October 2014 and are now receiving our first customers.”

The shop has been kitted out with a complementary therapies treatment room which will also be used to stage spiritual workshops.

“We are aiming to cater for a whole host of religions and will offer a range of products – everything from crystals through to tarot cards and religious books,” Alison added.

Business partner Sharon Robinson said: “From meeting each other we knew we were going to work together. The degree for us has been absolutely fantastic – it’s given us insights into customers, running a business, anatomy, physiology and more.”

Spiritual Emporium is located at 13 Town Hall Street, Blackburn.

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October 2023