Sheffield woman becomes queen of personalised gifts

Lucy Fisher, the owner of Cushion Queen, which is located in Crystal Peaks Market in Sheffield.

Lucy, aged36, first started selling cushions and bedding via Facebook to help conquer her anxiety.

She said: “I needed something to get me out of the house so I started selling things.

A memory teddy. Sold at the Cushion Queen stall in Crystal Peaks market which is run by Lucu Fisher. The teddy is made using an item of clothing owned by a lost loved one.

“The first thing that I had was 100 cushion covers, that’s why I called myself cushion queen.

“I would deliver to people’s houses in a two-hour time slot and I was determined not to let them down.

“By doing that, people got to know me and they would ask if I could get them other things too. I like to help people so I would find a way to get it for them. I also started thinking of other things I could sell to make my business different, and it all grew from there.”

Two years ago, with the business growing daily, Lucy had a dream about owning a stall in Crystal Peaks Market - and the very next day she signed up to rent her stall and make her dream a reality.

She said: “Now, I sell all sorts of things - from candles and family tree ornaments to personalised toy boxes and picture frames. But, I kept the name Cushion Queen because by then that was how everybody knew me.

“Having this business has definitely helped me to beat my anxiety. Now, I love to meet the customers and hear all about their personal stories.

“I’m always either in the shop now or taking orders on Facebook, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Lucy, who is mum to six-year-old Max and four-year-old Maisey added: “I have over 12,000 followers on Facebook now and I am very proud of that because I have done it all on my own.

“Another great thing is I can work hours to suit my lifestyle with my children. Max calls himself the cushion king and Maisey is cushion princess.”

Lucy’s children are just two of the hundreds of youngsters who have one of the bespoke wooden toy boxes that she has for sale. The boxes can be made to any size and can be personalised with any name and colour scheme.

Many of the other products can be personalised according to customer specification, including two of Lucy’s most popular and unique products - the memory cushion and memory teddy bear.

These remembrance keepsakes, inspired by a customer, are made using an item of clothing which belonged to a late loved one and often have a message embroidered on them. Lucy said:“I love seeing people’s faces when I give them personalised products because of how happy they make them.”