Stowmarket shop owner Jill Sainsbury bids farewell ahead of Handy Hardware closure

The owner of a town centre shop is bidding farewell to her loyal customers as she prepares for her next adventure.

Jill Sainsbury, 54, announced the closure of Handy Hardware, in Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, last week having worked in the same building since 2007 when it was Savers before transforming into Diss Discount.

She took over the business in 2018 to sell a range of DIY products and homeware – however, she is now leaving the town and shop behind to follow her dream of moving to Derbyshire.

Jill said: “I’m excited to be moving but I will be crying my heart out when it comes to closing our doors for the last time.

“It’s honestly felt more like a hobby than a job as I’ve always enjoyed coming here and seeing the customers – in many ways, it’s more like a community centre. A lot of people pop in just to say hello.

“I love listening to everyone’s stories and I really love the town, but I’m ready for a new adventure.”

Not only did Jill bring the town’s community together at the shop, she also brought people together online through the creation of Stowmarket Community Noticeboard – Stowmarket’s largest Facebook group with more than 20,000 members.

Originally from Yorkshire, Jill moved to the town when she was 18 and has more than three decades worth of cherished memories.

One particularly emotional moment was the official launch of Handy Hardware in 2018 which saw her dad, Colin Hawkins, cut the ribbon with a pair of garden shears.

Mr Hawkins made headlines during the pandemic for walking 63 laps of Stowmarket Recreation Ground to raise nearly £5,000 for charity after losing his sight. He died just a few months later in August 2021.

Jill said: “I kept thinking, ‘who should I get to come and open the shop?’ – but there was only one person in my eyes who was famous enough and that was my dad.

“I was also so close to my dad and he was always so supportive.”

Jill and her husband, David, have been visiting Derbyshire regularly for the past three years and they recently discovered some major family history connected to the area.

David is a wildlife photographer and is looking forward to the discovering the different wildlife up north.

An official closing date has not been set for Handy Hardware, but the shop will continue to sell products while stock lasts.