This week our Trader of the week is Grace and Annie's Event Hire, a family-owned business based in the Whitehaven area. 

The recently founded company is owned by mother and daughter Anne Carr and Hayley Moffatt. 

Ms Moffatt said: "We've been launched since June 2021; we were going to launch the year before but with Covid and lockdown it just wasn't the sensible thing to do. 

"We spent that year in lockdown researching what was already in the area and doing online training. We specialise in events hire, but it's not just for weddings, we cover special birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, baby showers, basically any type of event. 

"This is why we've decided to do a showcase weekend because we have such a huge variety in our portfolio when we're attending wedding fayres and other events, we don't have the space to take absolutely everything with us.

"Because we're getting so busy, and enquiries are coming in for different types of events we just decided to do a showcase weekend and then everyone can come and see everything that we offer for all the kinds of events. 

"We've seen a lot of success since starting the business, the thing is locally there are a lot of businesses that offer what we do.

"But that is why we spent that year researching, so for example we were the first company locally to bring our 'twinkle twinkle little moon' back drop. We were the first company locally to bring the Hollywood boards to the area. 

"So, we're always looking at what this area is missing with events, we're not just the same as everyone we're always looking for new ideas. 

"It's just been nonstop since we launched, my mum has always done it for family and friends but everyone said we should go into business and since we decided too it's just gone from strength to strength."

The showcase weekend will be held at Keekle Village Hall on March 18 and March 19 between 10am and 4pm.