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In a stockroom in Barnsley, there are rails of children’s clothes that span decades. Some heritage items date back to the early 1980s. Others arrived only weeks ago. Together, they tell the story of a business that hasn’t stood still, even as everything around it has changed.
Angela’s Online didn’t start online at all. It began in 1977 when Angela, Bryony Cooney’s mum, made a sudden life change that still feels bold today.
“She was going to be a marine biologist,” Bryony says. “She was sitting in a Biology A Level exam and thought, I don’t want to do this anymore. By the end of the day, she’d walked out of school and told my grandad she wanted to open a shop.”
That first shop sold a mix of haberdashery, women’s clothing, and children’s wear. But it didn’t take long for one area to stand out. Children’s clothing quickly became the main focus. What started as a small local shop went on to grow into two retail spaces and a loyal customer base.
Now, almost 50 years later, the business is changing again.
In August 2025, Bryony took over the running of Angela’s Online, at a time when both family life and retail were shifting fast.
“My mum had no desire to retire whatsoever,” she says. “But we said, it’s time. You’ve worked too hard now.”
The way people shop had changed too. More customers were buying online, and the need for physical retail space was declining. One shop is now rented out to another children’s retailer, while the other continues to trade on a smaller scale.
Bryony laughs as she describes how that looks day to day.
“We’ve invented a phrase called ‘clopen’,” she says. “It opens on Thursdays and Fridays, and we’re not quite sure whether it’s closed or open. But we’re slowly moving all the stock to Barnsley, and it will eventually get sold online.”
Since 2022, Angela’s Online has grown online every month. Bryony puts this down to steady graft and consistency. She now runs two connected businesses – Angela’s Online, which sells direct to customers, and another that supplies independent retailers.
“I’m the one who sells the Mars bars to the newsagents, but I also own the newsagent,” she explains.
It’s a simple way of describing how she sees the market from both sides. She understands what customers want, and what shops need. That perspective feeds into the product range. It’s different from the high street with a focus on classic European brands rather than fast-moving trends. Some items are bold. Others are soft and simple, designed to last beyond one season.
“I have one brand that’s quite crazy, whacky, and out there,” she says. “Definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. But then I’ve got the softer pastel brands that just keep going. Pink and blue never really date, and people always need clothes for babies.”
Most customers are buying for younger children, especially under twos, with an even split between boys and girls. And, while neutral tones have grown in popularity elsewhere, Bryony has stayed consistent. “We’re definitely at the other end of that, still pink and blue,” she says.
That consistency has paid off, but it also comes with pressure. The market has become more competitive in recent years, and online shopping makes it easier for customers to compare prices.
“If customers know I sell something, the first thing they’ll do is try and find it cheaper,” she says. That creates constant pressure. Pricing, stock, and timing all matter. “You only get one chance sometimes,” she adds. “If something takes off and you’ve got none left, that’s it.”
When Bryony was choosing a new base for Angela’s Online in Barnsley, The Business Village was an easy decision. She already knew the centre from previous work, so it didn’t feel like a leap into the unknown.
“While there were cheaper options elsewhere, they didn’t offer the same value,” she says. “The benefits make it much more competitive.”
Those benefits include practical support from reception along with the wider community within the building. With regular deliveries arriving, that support has become a big part of how the business runs day to day.
“I can receive 10–15 big boxes at a time,” she says. “If I’m not there, Reception will hold them for me. They’ll take returns too, which means the business can keep moving when I’m away.”
For Bryony, that kind of flexibility is massive. “I’m a working mum with three young children. Because of The Business Village, I’ve never missed a school pick-up or a nativity play. It’s brilliant.”
It might sound like a small thing. But the ability to run a business without missing those moments isn’t something every workspace can offer.
And for Bryony, it’s not just the practical side of The Business Village that makes a difference. The wider community has become part of everyday working life too. Even for an online business, that physical environment still matters, giving structure, support, and connection.
“I’ve had help from a few of the businesses here,” she says. “Someone helped me unpick a label there and then, which would have taken me all day to sort. Others have helped with tech problems or even lending me a hammer and nails.”
It’s the kind of environment that helps Bryony move forward with her business.
Looking ahead, there is still a strong family link. Her mum remains involved and offers support when needed, but the direction is firmly forward.
“I want to continue growing,” Bryony says. “To keep on with my vision, while honouring Mum and what she was.”
And The Business Village is part of that journey.
“I’d love the positivity of The Business Village to shine through,” she adds. “If I was someone considering it, I would jump in with two feet straight away. You won’t regret it.”
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