Long-standing clothes shop at the heart of town encourages shoppers to invest in Northampton’s economy
The founder of a long-standing clothes shop at the heart of town encourages shoppers to keep their money invested in Northampton’s economy by supporting independents this Christmas.
Voni Blu, located on Castilian Street, focuses on quality, difference and sustainability and celebrated its impressive 17-year milestone in September.
The venture was founded in 2008 by Yvonne Spence and despite the concerning economic climate, she knew it was the right time to launch her business and was determined to make it work.
Having previously worked in sales, including a stint at Estée Lauder, Yvonne always had her sights set on opening a store with something different and unique to offer.
She began with jewellery and handbags as nothing in the gifting world jumped out at her, before branching into clothing further down the line.
Reflecting on how 2025 has been for Voni Blu, Yvonne told the Chronicle & Echo: “It’s been up and down to be honest and there’s lots of changes going on at the moment. On the whole, it’s been good and what I expected.
“Lucky for us, we have a good base of loyal customers who support us and invite their friends. People are really impressed with the type of products we sell and our fabrics.”
Yvonne admitted it can be a challenge to stick within your budget when you are committed to offering something different in the town centre, but things are going well for Voni Blu.
Customers often praise the uniqueness of the clothing, the high level of customer service and the relaxed shopping experience, with some having described the store as their “happy place”.
One of Yvonne’s proudest achievements of 2025 is building on her base of “fabulous customers”, and that she has remained positive and excited about the job she has loved for the past decade-and-a-half.
She is also proud to have raised more than £2,000 by bringing together the Collingtree Park community in aid of Cynthia Spencer and Northants Parkinson's People.
The founder was asked what message she wants to send to the Northampton community about the importance of supporting long-standing independent businesses like Voni Blu in the run up to Christmas.
“Supporting independent businesses keeps money in the local economy,” said Yvonne. “There’s lots in this area and we refer each other, like Montague Jeffery and Vintage Guru. The high street has been diminished over a long period, and it’s important to come and shop with us.”
Yvonne says that jewellery, scarves, gloves, socks and fragrances are most popular at this time of year, as there is a variety to choose from at different price points in Voni Blu. Gift vouchers and complimentary Christmas gift wrapping are also available.
Looking to the future, Yvonne would love to see more independent shops in the area to increase footfall – including more fashion boutiques to make the town centre a destination.
“We’ve got lots of new brands coming next season and we’ve mixed things up,” said Yvonne. “I’m really excited about that. Designers have had to evolve and pull out all the stops. It’s made my buying easier for spring and summer, but more difficult to stick to the budget.”