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Worth Hallering About
Broad Norfolk Designs
Products available from Broad Norfolk Designs.

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Our Parent Company is called Bishy B Industries, our PR arm is ‘PollyWiggle Promotions’. Even our first-born has been unintentionally named after the local word for a wasp. Being such appreciators of the strange and wonderful dialect that is broad Norfolk (and obviously being born’n’bred Norfolk-ians ourselves), imagine our excitement when we heard about Broad Norfolk Designs - a brand new business blowing the trumpet for Norfolk-speak with a series of products that incorporate some of our finest words and phrases. 

Launched this summer by Norfolk businesswoman Lucy Catto, Broad Norfolk Designs is a clothing and gift company specialising in designs inspired by our local Norfolk dialect. Lucy says that the aim is “to celebrate rather than mock the unique, quirky and downright bizarre words that have existed in our local dialect for hundreds of years”.

 

Lucy Catto of Broad Norfolk Designs with some of her products.

 

The idea came about while Lucy, working far from Norfolk at the time, referred to a ladybird as a Bishy Barney Bee. Her colleagues were bemused, triggering a long conversation about various words in the Norfolk dialect and their origins. This was a real ‘eureka’ moment for Lucy, who realised that the Bishy Barney Bee would be a great theme for baby/children’s clothes. The idea grew from there.

A PhD-qualified scientist by profession, Lucy’s latest role as a Mum and a return to her home county of Norfolk provided her with the perfect opportunity to start up her own business.

To date, the range includes Bone China and ceramic mugs, plates and T-shirts for babies, children and adults. The ‘flagship’ designs are based on Bishy barney bee, but due to popular demand Lucy has recently introduced ‘Mardle’, ‘On the huh’ and ‘Hold yew hard!’ designs.

 

Mugs by Broad Norfolk Designs.

 

Future plans include expansion of the products available and, of course, incorporation of even more Norfolk words and phrases (Lucy says she is always happy to hear people’s favourites).

As well as drawing attention to the Norfolk dialect, Lucy points out that she is very keen to support our local economy. “All of the design artwork is produced in-house and is then brought to life on our clothing and ceramics by local companies”, she says.

Ideal for visitors as a souvenir of the area, Lucy says her products have been popular with Norfolk expats, as far a field as Australia and New Zealand. Lucy has also had some interesting experiences with visitors to her stands at craft fairs - seems that a lot of people have some very strong opinions about the Norfolk tongue!

You can get your hands on Lucy’s products through her online shop or by visiting The Jade Tree in Elm Hill, Norwich, which stocks the mugs and plates. Lucy also sells her products at various craft fairs around the county.

 

Lucy with some of her products.

 

 

Need To Know:

Broad Norfolk Designs

www.broadnorfolkdesigns.co.uk

email: info@broadnorfolkdesigns.co.uk

 

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