Rock musicians who bonded in university are set to open a vintage store in Ipswich’s Sailmakers Shopping Centre this weekend.

East Anglian Daily Times: Rock hand New AdventuresRock hand New Adventures (Image: Archant)

It’s a second outlet for Best Days Vintage, run by Jez Dixon and Steve Hurdle, who opened their first shop in Eld Lane, Colchester, more than three years ago and have a thriving on-line business.

Singer Jez and guitarist Steve, both 37, originally met at university in High Wycombe, formed a band, New Adventures, and spent eight years touring the UK before cutting their teeth in the vintage clothing market with London-based Rokit.

They decided to move out of London to open their business and their Colchester shop, backed by the online trade, has proved a success and they now employ 11 staff there and at their warehouse in Manningtree.

Mr Hurdle said: “We chose Ipswich because there seem to be good links with Colchester and we’d often have people from Ipswich in our store there.

“We’ve already trained up staff for the new shop so we will be able to hit the ground running when we open by the beginning of July.

“We trade in 1990s vintage clothing which we source from all over the UK and Europe and even the USA and we aim to be very much on trend with a target market from 15 to 25 although 40% of our customers are older.

“Our clothing is all hand-selected and we mainly deal in early 1990s clothing because that’s what’s on trend right now, street-style with classic sportswear, denim jackets, sweatshirts, Hawaiian shirts but we’re always reassessing what selling.

“Sailmakers is busy and well situated and we believe we can also help bring a younger crowd there as well.”

Mike Sorhaindo, manager of Sailmakers Shopping Centre, said: “This is a great addition to the retail mix here at Sailmakers and we believe it will bring a new dynamic to the centre.

“Jez and Steve have clearly done their homework and they know their business and they have appreciated that there is a gap in the market in Ipswich and they’re looking to fill it.

“We’re delighted they’re coming here and they add to a string of new arrivals this year and also since the £4.5million refurbishment of the centre.”

Mr Hurdle added: “Jez and I do everything together. We were in uni together, in the band together and in business together and we share the ideals of creating a shop that is accessible and fun to visit.

“We are very serious about what we do and also very aware that our customers are young and finding their own style and we want to make it easy for them.

“We’re social media savvy and have a big presence online while the shop is accessible and friendly and music is still very important to us.

“We still play occasionally, and we’re always looking for music to go on the in-store playlist.”