Popular Barry Island business Barrybados turns ten

Barrybados was born in 2013 with owner Louis Ross and a friend, starting as a Twitter account that shared pictures of Barry to the wider world. They made the decision to sell mugs and subsequently sold out of all 20 within just 24 hours, clearly signalling that the public wanted to see more from them.

The business started with a small stall outside Marco’s café (Image: Supplied)

In 2014 and 2015, Barrybados flogged their wares from a table in Marco’s Café, where supportive customers would visit to peruse their products. After a good run, the business made the move into a seafront unit that was shared at the time with The Beach Hut. Just a year later in 2017, they would take over the unit completely and turn it into the shop that people come from far and wide to visit.

Since its inception, Barrybados has taken the world by storm, with mugs being ordered from former residents of Barry that now live in Australia, America and Japan, and sent by relatives to people who simply love the town as much as those who live here.

Their products have made it to the other side of the globe (Image: Supplied)

But this business is so much more than just a shop. They support so many causes and organisations from across Barry, sponsoring everything from events to rugby shirts for local teams.

Their social media page is now full of the goings on in the town, promoting a range of upcoming events and business openings. Mr Ross said that he had learned how to “adapt to the times” and turned the business into the feelgood hub for locals that it is today.

Mr Ross said: “I’m very grateful to everyone that’s supported us from day one.

“This wasn’t meant to be a business; it was a joke between friends. We had these 20 mugs made and it exploded.”

Barrybados is stocked full of Gavin and Stacey gifts (Image: NQ)

Since its inception, the business has seen two Gavin and Stacey specials, a pandemic, incredibly busy summers, and not so lively winters.

Mr Ross’ enthusiasm for the Barry and its people is so evident in the way he interacts with locals and supports all that comes out of this town.

He said: “I’ll keep going as long as I’m happy and enjoying it.

“I know that one day this is going to end and when it does, I can look back and say I’ve achieved everything I wanted to and more.”