Rachael turns to teaching as mum Rita retires from 17-year temp job
When a temporary job lasts 17 years, it must have been a good one – but indie Rachael Barnes has finally decided the time is right to enable her mum Rita Knibbs retire, coinciding with the sale of Dragonfly Cards & Gifts to Cardzone.
“For mum it’s time to relax at last, she was only supposed to be helping me out for a short time!” said Rachael who is enjoying a well-earned post-Christmas rest as she and Rita put in their final stint at the award-winning Knaresborough store on Christmas Eve.
Rachael bought the store in 2005 and, with Rita’s help, went on to win two Retas Best Greeting Card Retailer awards, and she is now turning her talents to educating the next generation of card senders by becoming a teacher.
“For me it’s going to be a complete change going into teaching,” Rachael added.” I’ve always wanted to work in a primary school and have been given the most amazing opportunity at a lovely village school nearby. I’ll make sure I train the next generation to be card senders! However, it’s going to be so strange after nearly 17 years – I’ve spent more time at the shop than I have at home!”
And she commented that, during their term in the shop, she and Rita have “had time to see some of the families of our regular customers go through primary, secondary and university education and begin families of their own”.
Of the highlights during her ownership, Rachael picked out: “Winning two Retas awards, getting to work in an industry that I love for so long and with my mum by my side. Being such a big part of the community has meant the world too.”
Although the shop was actually sold back in September to Paul Taylor’s 150+ Cardzone retail group, with Emma taking the reins as the new store manager, Rachael stayed until Christmas Eve to ease the transition.
As she explained: “Our lease was nearly due for renewal and I really needed to let mum finally retire so the timing was just right. The new owners didn’t want us to say anything straight away as there’s always a bit of wariness when things change, but they’ve had the shop for three months now and our customers know it’s still as great as ever.”
Top: Rachael and Rita are missing the card industry already
