Cleaver Endeavours: more than just arts and crafts

27 June, 2022

JULIA WADE

With a history which can be measured in yards, metres and stitches, one of Wellsford’s long-standing businesses remains a strong thread in the town, woven into the fabric of it’s colourful past.

Long-running art and craft store Clever Endeavours has stood the test of time, owned exclusively by sole traders Tricia and Peter Cox for 25 years, and their own personal history is also a little entwined.

“Peter and I are both local, my mum was a ‘Coates’ and her mother was the district nurse on horseback,” Tricia says. “Peter’s mum took the job over when my nana retired, so our family’s paths through time have crossed.”

First starting out on the town’s main road in the mid-90s, the couple looked for an alternative location for their business after rents became too expensive.

“Our current shop on Worker Road was available and we have been here with our current landlords for about 16 years, they are great and very fair.”

The store is a one-stop-shop for keen crafters, creative sewers or those just needing needle and thread for a repair, stocking around a thousand bolts of cotton quilting fabrics, ‘wide backers’, ‘so about 4000 metres of fabric’, haberdashery and various bits and bobs such as buttons, ribbons, threads and velcro, a full range of Anchor stranded threads, machine and hand sewing needles, and various branded sewing machinery such as Husqvarna Viking, Brothers and Baby Lock.

“We also offer a variety of services like scissor sharpening and servicing the sewing machines,” Tricia says. “We do sewing alterations and repairs, peronalise school uniforms for ease of identification and have a commercial embroidery machine so can do digitising of designs for personal, club and commercial embroidery.”

Often busy, Tricia says they have ‘amazing friends’ who willingly step in to give a helping hand if needed.

“We are always learning about the craft industry... and we’re happy to help and pass what we know on to our customers.”

n Check out Clever Endeavours facebook profile to know more about what’s on offer or call (09) 423 8219.

Long-running art and craft store Clever Endeavours has stood the test of time, owned exclusively by Tricia and Peter Cox for 25 years.