Party Business Entrepreneur Defies Odds To Open Second Shop
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 1 June 2016
UPDATED: 1 June 2016
A Derbyshire based entrepreneur has defied the odds after being told he ‘may not walk or talk again’ to open his second party shop at the former Ilkeston Co-op site, and now hopes to be an inspiration to fellow stroke sufferers.
Stroke sufferer, Simon Griffin (44) from Ripley, who owns Discount Party Warehouse and now Ilkeston based Discount Party Outlet, launched the business in 2011, selling party products online from his house with wife Emma (41)
L-R: Sean Butler the shop manager with Simon Griffin
The one stop party business grew quickly, especially after the Queen’s Jubilee in 2012, and moved to a unit on Prospect Court in Ripley to store and dispatch the products, when Simon suddenly suffered a major stroke whilst watching TV in February 2014.
Simon said:
“I collapsed and my wife noticed that my face had drooped on one side. I can vaguely remember being in an ambulance but after that it's a blur.”
Simon was taken initially for scans at Derby Royal who then rushed him to the QMC in Nottingham. Hospital staff informed Emma not to expect much improvement in the short term, and that any minor improvements may take up to six months. Despite this, after just five days he was transferred back to Derby for rehabilitation.
Simon continued,
"I still had no movement or feeling in any of my left side - I needed help to do absolutely everything! It drove me mad, and was told that I would be in hospital for weeks"
Within eight days at Derby Hospital however, Simon had managed to persuade doctors to let him go home and had also persuaded Sean Butler, to open their first shop in Ripley via a text.
Simon added:
“I sent a text to Sean from my hospital bed offering him a job as shop manager, and he replied saying that he thought that I was mad! Whilst I was in hospital, I was thinking that I could either see this as a permanent disability, or I could make sure that this new business opportunity gave me something to strive for. ”
Despite needing to re- teach himself how to walk, drive and even use a knife and fork following his stroke, the first shop on Prospect Court in Ripley was opened within three months of that original text being sent.
Now, against all odds, approximately two years after suffering a stroke, Simon and his wife Emma are opening a second shop, The Discount Party Outlet, at the former Ilkeston Co-op site.
Simon now hopes to support stroke charities and hopes that his story can be seen as an inspiration to others.
The new 2,500 sqft high street shop, will offer customers ‘everything for their party, under one roof’ including: balloons, decorations, tableware, cards, invitations, gifts and the firm’s new fancy dress service. They even stock smoke and bubble machines and offer a delivery service for balloon orders.
Simon said:
“We were looking for a high street location because the shop in Ripley is on an industrial court away from the town centre. Ilkeston is the second biggest town in Derbyshire and we saw a gap in the market. The location is fantastic in the former Co-op.
“We have now grown to ten members of staff. I would like to thank all of the existing staff and everyone who helped to keep things going whilst I was ill. I would especially like to thank my wife Emma. The amount of patience and support she shows through my recovery is amazing.”
For more information, please visit www.discountpartyoutlet.co.uk
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