Casa Fina to celebrate 40 years on the High Street in Salisbury

Susi Mason and the staff at Casa Fina, at 62 High Street, are looking forward to the build-up of celebrations culminating in the launch of their Christmas collection on November 2.

Susi Mason - owner of Casa Fina (Image: Chris Ison)Read more: How to have your say on the Wiltshire Council's local plan

The original inspiration for the shop, back in 1983, came when Susi's mother, widowed and facing an 'empty nest', was looking for a new challenge. 

Susi said:  "She was looking for a challenge and had a favourite interiors shop. Having become friendly with the owners she made the huge step of moving to Salisbury and opening Casa Fina.

“So many customers remember those early days. I’d like to think that our first customer may well be one of our current customers. We’d love to hear from anyone who visited us in 1983.”

Liz French with her daughter Susi (Mason) (Image: Susi Mason)Read more: Six food hygiene inspection ratings

Casa Fina had a Mediterranean style in the 1980s selling Spanish and Italian ceramics. 

Susi said: “The first sale might have been a 4' hand-painted leopard, an urn piled high with oranges or a woollen Pupo rug.”

Neither Susi nor her mother had any previous experience in running a business but when people started to go into the shop and told them how much they loved to browse the products or how much they loved the window displays, they knew that they were doing something right.

Susi Mason at Casa Fina (Image: Suzy Ellis)Read more: Have your say about Gilbert the Dragon

With so many pressures on the retail industry, the road to success has not always been smooth. 

Susi said: “Over 40 years, there have been many dips but none as severe as the Novichok incident, Covid-19, or the recent cost of living crisis.

"To get through these we have never stood still - our stock has evolved over the years to suit our customer’s tastes but without compromising on good design, quality and value with changing displays each showing a fresh curated offering.”

Personal highlights over the last 40 years include Christmas down the years: "We adore Christmas at Casa Fina and I've loved all the fabulous window displays which always attract lots of attention. Each year it gets harder to be different but I know what's in the 2023 one and it's going to be another beauty."

The shop also featured on the BBC show Interior Design Masters in 2022. 

"We loved the design that Fran Lee came up with. Fran has been back to Salisbury many times and it’s always lovely to see her."