Express & Star

Business-savvy Black Country seven-year-old opens own antique bottle shop

Most seven-year-olds aren't sure what they want to do when they're older, but this youngster has already launched her own business.

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Betsy-Mae Lloyd with her antique bottles

Betsy-Mae Lloyd, from Wednesbury, has followed in her father Jason's footsteps by digging up antique bottles from old landfill sites across the region.

The Albert Pritchard School pupil then cleans up her finds and puts them up for sale in her own little shop her father built for her in their back garden.

WATCH: Take a look inside Betsy-Mae's bottle shop

Betsy-Mae has already saved up enough with the money raised from selling the antique bottles in her shop to buy herself a new laptop.

But like a typical seven-year-old, her favourite part of her hobby is "digging and getting dirty".

Her father Jason, 49, said the bottles they collect usually date back to between the 1890s and 1930s.

Betsy's Bottle Shop
Betsy-Mae Lloyd, age seven, with her father Jason

He said: "I've collected antique bottles all of my life, initially we were leaving them behind, we weren't sure what to do with them.

"Then people wanted to buy them so Betsy-Mae sold a couple on Facebook, then I built a shop for her as I build playhouses for a living.

Newspaper stories of Betsy-Mae's father Jason bottle collecting when he was a boy

"She washes the bottles in her outdoor kitchen after we find them in historic landfill sites, they're 100 years old or more, it's not modern rubbish.

"We get permission off the farmer and they're happy as long as we fill the holes back up afterwards.

Betsy-Mae Lloyd with some of her bottles

"We get old maps online and look where there was an open mine, then compare it to a map from about 10 years ago and if it's been filled in, it's landfill.

"We probably go out two or three times a week, or most evenings in the summer.

"She has a steady flow of customers, she saved up her money and she bought herself a laptop.

Betsy-Mae Lloyd in her bottle shop

"To get money for something that has been left and smashed up, it's nice really.

"Over the years I've got a vast knowledge about it all, there's a whole world out there and a lot of valuable things.

"It's like history repeating itself. It's lovely, we were in a travelling fun fair for years and we've settled down a few years ago."

Betsy-Mae added: "I like digging and getting dirty. I think my shop is super. My dad helps me with the prices.

"I play robots on my laptop and I chat with my friends."

Betsy-Mae Lloyd in 'Betsy's Bottle Shop'
Betsy-Mae Lloyd in her own 'Betsy's Bottle Shop', built for her by her father

Betsy-Mae's shop is in their garden at 76 Wood Green Road, Wednesbury. People interested can call Jason on 07757806001.

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