A new furniture shop is championing UK manufacturers on Maldon High Street.
Sofa King Comfy, owned by Steven White and his nephew Sam White, opened its doors on August 7 and is among the first businesses to move into the former Emporium.
The Emporium closed last year following the retirement of its owners, Graham and Mary Powell, after 40 years.
Now, they have paved the way for smaller businesses to get a shopfront on the High Street.
Sam White, 29, told the Standard: "It’s been absolutely brilliant. We’ve had a really good start.
"When you have a new business in an area you don’t know all that well, you don’t know what you’re going to get.
"But we’ve been received really well."
Steven White, 42, added: “We’ve got so many people coming in, saying how much they loved the Emporium and miss it.
"Many of them are glad it’s not become another nail bar."
Most of the shop’s furniture is UK-made, with bedroom pieces produced in Tiptree and pictures on display from Maldon-based artists.
Steven said: "That’s what people want around here – they like shopping local."
Sam has worked in furniture sales since he was 15, starting out at a branch of Oak Furniture Land managed by his uncle.
The pair have spent the past decade dreaming of opening their own shop, and finally took the plunge in Maldon.
Steven said: "It’s been a pipe dream that never quite happened, but we recently decided now’s the time."
The family-run furniture shop hopes to offer a more personal service than retail chains.
"With the larger companies, you’re a number," Steven added.
"With us, you’re a name. We’ll go above and beyond to help our customers."
Hailing from Tilbury, both men have been charmed by Maldon’s vibrant town centre.
Steven said: "I love Maldon High Street - it’s amazing.
"There are so many local businesses that are still going, and they all seem to be thriving."
He also explained the origins of the shop’s tongue-in-cheek name.
Steven said: "We wanted to catch people’s attention and make them laugh.
“We didn’t want to call it ‘Sam and Steve’, ‘S & S’, or anything like that. It’s boring.
"We always look for the humour in everything."
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