In our February 2026 business spotlight, we're showcasing another of Haslemere's long running businesses - Baker & Sons - best described by the team who work there as a 'one stop fabric and sewing shop.'

The current owner of this fabulous business is Ralph Baker who explained that Baker & Sons was founded in 1947 by his father, Maurice. Back then, business was conducted from what can best be described as a small shed. We feel sure that Maurice would have been delighted if he had known that, nearly 80 years later, his business would still be going strong! From these humble beginnings, Maurice grew his upholstery business, quickly moving into fabrics, floorings as well as furniture. So successful was he that, by the 1980s, he owned three separate shops on Weyhill. 

Eventually though, the time came for Maurice to hand over the reins to this sons, Alan and Ralph. When Maurice made the decision to retire, Ralph took over the running of the furnishing and fabric business whilst Alan kept the flooring business, eventually changing the name to Silk Road. And the furniture business was closed.

The Baker & Sons shop has, of course, changed over the years but it still occupies the same spot that it always did on Weyhill. However, the range of items it sells has grown. It was originally just a fabric furnishing shop, making curtains for local residents, but when dress fabric store, Glovers, closed its doors in Shottermill over 25 years ago, Ralph decided to branch out, adding a comprehensive range of haberdashery and dress fabrics. Each year seems to see them adding something else to their repertoire.

These days, the team at Baker & Sons is a tight-knit one (particularly apt given they sell lots of wonderful wool!) Obviously, Ralph is at the helm, and there is also Sarah who has been there for 30 years and, finally, Karen, who is a newbie with just 11 years under her belt! Even the lady that dresses the shop window each month has been doing so for over 40 years now. Affectionately referred to by the team as 'Nina Windows,' she works magic to ensure the store stays looking fresh and inviting for those passing by. Many will remember her incredibly moving window from 2018 marking the 100th year anniversary of the end of the WWI. The quiet beauty of all the handmade poppies interspersed with family photos was so poignant.

We think it's the small team that makes Baker & Sons such a gem. A local newspaper article about the business from 1988 remarked that, 'All the staff, including those  which do not have the Baker surname, have the same spirit.' And this certainly remains true today. Anyone who has been into Baker & Sons will know that Ralph, Sarah and Karen all have incredible expertise. You will struggle to find a shop in Haslemere with a team more helpful or knowledgable and the service is incredibly personal. Don't expect to find them selling online either - in a refreshingly traditional way, they believe fabric needs to be touched and felt before buying.

From wool to ribbons, blackout lining to yarn, quilting fabrics to embroidery kits, material to elastic, you'll find it all on sale here. But if you're busy with an interior design project, they'll also help you with a made-to-measure curtain service too. Ralph is often out of the shop visiting people's homes to measure up whilst Sarah and Karen tend to stick more downstairs helping customers that come through the doors. But so much goes on behind the scenes too. Whether it's deciding on new ranges or pattern books or speaking to reps, there is never a quiet moment for the team at Bakers & Sons. And we must not forget their workshop either, where a dedicated team of curtain makers are busy creating masterpieces ready to go into local homes. The finished curtains are then brought to your home to be hung and dressed by the team ensuring a complete service.

With this level of customer care, it's perhaps not surprising that Baker & Sons attract customers from a wide area. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer stores like theirs these days, so it's not unusual to find people travelling in from Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton and outer London in search of specific fabrics that they have in stock.

This is not to say business is not challenging though. Rising prices for both products and utlities have hit hard. The shop is large and the heating costs alone are astronomical. And, of course, the threat of online shopping is ever present. However, just like we heard from Sarah at Past & Present in our January business spotlight, Baker & Sons also aim to beat the internet by having such a strong product range and fantastic customer service. To always beat the likes of Amazon on price is impossible for our local, independent retailers, but they are proving that they can certainly beat them in other ways.

As for their spare time, we are amazed that Ralph, Sarah and Karen have any hours left in their week to do anything else! But you will often see Ralph out walking and Karen is usually either knitting, gardening or enjoying a pub quiz. And you're likely to see Sarah running around town. A few years ago, Sarah raised nearly £3,500 for both MND and the Haslemere Food Bank by running the Leeds Marathon. Whilst she has no plans to run another, she still puts the miles in to keep fit. And she also supports her husband and daughter with coaching and training at the Haslemere Rugby Club which has a growing girls squad - the Bluebells.

The This is Haslemere team love this long-running independent business - if you haven't yet discovered it, we strongly encourage you to pop in. Ralph, Karen and Sarah will be more than happy for you to just enjoy a browse but, if you do want any help, they'll be delighted to offer advice. We think it's like a tardis in there - a treasure trove for those who fancy being creative or for those needing help with home interiors! 

On a personal front, I am immensely grateful to them for their help in a recent sewing project - thanks to their advice (and much to my surprise given my limited sewing abilities) my husband now has a wearable pair of pyjama trousers! 

We hope you love Baker & Sons as much as we do.