A MOTHER and son running a balloon and party shop in Rhyl have been shortlisted for the Welsh Independent Retail Awards.

Personalize A Memory on Bedford Street will go up against other businesses for the overall crown.

The Welsh Independent Retail Awards, which are in their second year, aims to highlight the value of independent retailers to the communities and country they operate within, showcasing diversity within the industry.

Ashley Jones, 21, who runs Personalize A Memory with his mum Lindsay Jones, said: “We had a phone call and they told us we are in the top 10 finalists.

Rhyl Journal:

Lindsay and Ashley Jones outside their shop in Rhyl. Picture: Kerry Roberts

“We’ve been going for three years now. In that time, we've had to change the way our business works. We used to do personalised gifts but we felt we might have to close as we weren’t getting the footfall, so just under a year ago we started doing occasion balloons and became a balloon and party shop. This has made all the difference. It has been a rollercoaster.

“We are located off the High Street. We work around our customers.

“We just can’t believe that this is happening for us. We are so grateful to all our customers who have nominated us.”

Ashley and Lindsay, 44, will attend the ceremony on April 15 at The Exchange Hotel in Cardiff.

A spokesperson from the Welsh Independent Retail Awards said: "Personalize A Memory has been shortlisted for an award this year.

"We collect votes from the public and once the voting is closed, we then contact all successful finalists to let them know next steps. This is the supporting evidence stage which we ask finalists to send us is an overview of the business, and the services they provide, and this information is passed on to a panel of individuals that will review the vote count and the supporting evidence they have submitted and then choose their deserving the winners for each category."