Valentine’s Day holds a special place in the heart of Moonflower, a beloved fixture on Stroud High Street for an incredible 40 years.
Moonflower first opened its doors on the High Street on Valentine’s Day 1986. The ribbon was cut by Jackie Sarsby and Sally Hains, organisers of Stroud’s contribution to Fashion Aid and Auction Aid, with proceeds from a fashion show at the Subscription Rooms supporting the Ethiopian Famine Relief Fund.
Owner and founder Fiona Mills-Carlyon told the Stroud Times: “Amazingly, it’s 40 years since the ribbons were cut and we moved to the High Street from our humble beginnings tucked away in John Street in 1979.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all the Moonflower staff over the years, especially Juliet Farrington, Ness Fair and Lise Hooper, for maintaining our colourful and stylish presence on the High Street for so long.”
To celebrate this milestone and thank their customers, Moonflower is hosting a Special Valentine’s Day Celebration Sale, offering 40% off selected items all day on Saturday 14th February, 9.30am–5pm.
The shop is also relaunching its popular Pre-Loved Rail, inviting the community to continue contributing items that create a buzz of excitement—because you never know what treasures might appear next.
Fiona added: “Thank you to all our stockists past and present, but most of all, thank you to our loyal customers -without you, Moonflower would not be the success story it has been.
“Here’s to the next decade, and to the prosperity of all the independent shops, the wonderful market, and everything that makes Stroud such a special place to be.”
The 1980s presented challenges with the property boom and subsequent bust, but Moonflower successfully negotiated its lease with the Stroud Preservation Trust, navigating the early recession.
Over the years, the shop has maintained a bright and colourful presence, supported by management consultants whose expertise has helped guide operations across two shops.
