Your Total Guide To business

TGt Meets... Martin Tracy

We've been chatting with The Framing Workshop owner, Martin Tracy as part of our series of interviews with local business owners to celebrate Bath's Independent Retailer month.

Describe your business in one sentence…

Actually, in one word – framing – but you name it we`ll frame it.

Where is home and why?

Since moving to Bath always south of the river – the views of the city (once we got to Combe Down) are astonishingly beautiful. Having lived here for 30 years I consider Bath to be home and having lived and travelled the world, now Bath is impossible to beat. Actually based on time spent, home is in Walcot Street.

Why do you think it is important to have a month celebrating Bath’s Independent Retailers?

Bath`s Independent Retail sector is of huge significance to the survival of Bath as a retail destination. It`s important that we all (retailers and residents) celebrate the wealth, cross section and mix of Indie`s the city has to offer all the time, not for just a month but hey, if shouting loudly for a concentrated period of time helps, let`s do it.

What inspired you to set up your business in Bath?

Once I decided to leave the armed forces (after 20 years) I set about working on turning my hobby into a business and reasoned that a city such as York, Oxford, Bath or Cambridge would be ideal. The only city I could research whilst still serving was Bath so asked to come to MOD Ensleigh. The rest, as they say, is history. Along with falling for my partner Julia – this small matter meant me settling in Bath. It was a no brainer really! For Bath read Walcot Street.

What have been your key challenges and how have you overcome them?

Starting and running an independent, family run business is and continues to be, a huge challenge; but from the outset I wanted to change the perception customers had for what our industry can now do. And how it`s changed! We continue to educate our loyal and dedicated customers, introducing cutting edge products (glass, mount boards and mouldings) and hi tech machinery enabling us to offer the very best our industry has to offer. We must be doing something right as our staff (of four) have been with us a total of seventy years whilst a lot of our customers have become good friends during our 27 years in Walcot Street.

What do you think attracts people to Bath?

Unquestionably the mix of independent retail businesses, the sheer loveliness of the owners of those businesses, the delight that is Bath`s architecture- what`s not to like. Oh, and did I mention Walcot Street.

How do you like to spend your time off?

Time off?! I`ll let you know when I retire.

Where is your favourite place to eat in Bath?

Over 400 eating establishments and counting I have to say I have trouble getting my head around the sustainability of that. However, we will always, eat in the independents, That`s for sure, and enjoy Walcot Street`s offerings of Hudson`s, Made by Ben, Aqua, Thai Basil, Sam`s Kitchen, Yammo!, Corkage, Fine Cheese Company, Schwartz Bros and for a beer ( I know you said eat..) The Bell and The Pig and Fiddle.

Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?

To us, all our customers are famous – and I mean that in all sincerity.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

Being one of four individuals selected by Mary Portas and The Daily Telegraph nationally for looking out for their independent High Street. I was and still am of course, proud to have been instrumental in putting Walcot Street on the map. Come and see our 33 stone faces of Walcot.

Describe Bath in 3 words

Can I change the question to: Describe Bath`s Indie`s in 3 words? Thank you!

Passion - Knowledge - Service