A breast-cancer survivor and her husband have been nominated for an award for their homeware business just two months after launching it.

Susie Wych used to run The Pot Cupboard in Crudwell until the impact of breast cancer recovery forced her to close the vintage furniture shop.

After receiving the five year all-clear from her doctors, she set up a new online home and garden store, Jack and Poppy, with her husband Chris and help from their children Joseph Jack, 21, and Ella Poppy, 23.

“It’s always been a passion. I’ve always loved doing up homes and gardens,” said Susie, from Minety.

“This idea developed through Covid because we realized that your home and your garden was probably the most important thing to you at the time “We were all stuck and home and locked down, we couldn’t do anything, so making your home environment and your garden really enjoyable and personal and happy is really important.”

The couple’s range of vases, lanterns, and textiles have not gone unnoticed, having been nominated as a finalist in Muddy Stilettos’ interior design category.

Susie’s experience running the Pot Cupboard with her friend for a year has provided the couple with some grounding for the business.

“I was recovering from breast cancer at the time and I think it was the wrong timing, so we wrapped that up. I think I probably took on a little bit too much too soon.”

“We took a bit of time out just before Covid and thought about our future and we both decided corporate isn’t for us any more, we’d like to see more of eachother and do a business together,” added Susie, who’s partner Chris worked for Formica until joining her on the homeware venture.

“I’ve really enjoyed the freedom it gives you. It’s hard work because there’s always something to be doing but I think we made the right decision and we’re very happy.”

“Being nominated for this award after a couple of months is just incredible.”

“We’re a local Cotswold business and we’re trying to do our best to provide a really personal service and we care about the environment too,” she said, explaining how they try to exclude single-use plastics and use eco-wrap in their packaging.

Winners of the Muddy Stilettos 2021 awards will be announced from July 29.